Half your sugar limit, says WHO

Our intake of sugar is in overload.
THE World Health Organization (WHO) is considering cutting the amount of sugar it recommends in your daily diet to half the current limit.
Experts are proposing cutting the recommended level that people should consume from no more than 10% of their calories from sugar to no more than 5%, based on fears of heart disease, obesity, and tooth decay, The Sunday Times in Britain reports.
The new requirements equate to about five teaspoons of sugar a day – about the same as in half a can of soda.
“It is political dynamite,” said Philip James, president of the WHO-affiliated International Association for the Study of Obesity, in the report. “The food industry will do everything in their power to undermine this.”
“I would agree with the recommendation to reduce it to 5%,” added Dr Shrinath Reddy, a cardiologist and a member of the WHO panel of experts. “There is overwhelming evidence coming out about sugar-sweetened beverages and other sugar consumption (being linked) to obesity, diabetes, and even, cardiovascular disease.”
According to recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, most US adults get a whopping 13% of their total calories from added sugars alone.
Not only does that add a lot of extra calories that contribute to making us fat, sugary items often displace healthier items, such as fruits, vegetables, and foods packed with nutrients. – AFP Relaxnews