A perspective on Sugars & Health From the Dairy Council Digest Presented by: Sarah Wojtyna, Dietetic Intern

Natural Sugars Sugars are present naturally in foods Fructose in fruits Lactose in milk Foods and beverages with naturally occurring sugars tend to be more nutrient dense

Added Sugars Added sugars like sucrose (table sugar) and high fructose corn syrup are digested and metabolized the same Foods and beverages with added sugars provide calories but few or no nutrients Soft drinks Fruit drinks Candy

What’s the hype about HFCS? (High Fructose Corn Syrup) Growing conception that foods with added sugars should be avoided whether nutrient dense or not. HFCS is confused with pure fructose HFCS is similar in composition and metabolism to sucrose. Sucrose= 50% glucose + 50% fructose HFCS 55= 45% glucose + 55% fructose HFCS 42= 58% glucose + 42% fructose

Sugar takes the Blame Poor diet quality Obesity Diabetes Mellitus Heart Disease Behavioral disorders in children There is no conclusive evidence that sugars alone can CAUSE these disorders. All of these factors have been blamed on intakes of sugar. However, there is no conclusive evidence that sugars alone can cause these disorders. Excess energy intake from sugars, particularly added sugars, is associated with weight gain and displacement of more nutrient dense foods which is a contributing factor to Obesity. Diabetes Mellitus is associated with the misuse of insulin or lack of insulin production rather than sugar intakes. Heart Disease has been linked more conclusively with the amounts of fats in the diet, particularly saturated and trans fats. Health professionals do recommend reduced intakes of added sugars, everything in moderation!

Nutrient Dense foods with Added Sugar Increase palatability and consumptions of these foods, improving nutrient intake improve their intake of essential nutrients increase milk intake reduce consumptions of soft drinks without increasing intake of percent calories from total fat, added sugars, or body weight. There are benefits to added sugar in nutrient dense foods like milk, yogurt, and presweetened cereals. Improving nutrient intakes of calcium, vit d, potassium, magnesium, folate, iron. Milk intake- study published in experimental biology this year concludes that flavored milk consumer has higher total milk itnkes than those who consumed exclusively plan milk. Also, compared to non-milk drinkers, flavored milk drinkers had higher energy-adjusted intakes of several key nutrients-calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Importance of Flavored Dairy Helping children and adolescents meet their recommended daily intakes of dairy foods and dairy food nutrients! The importance of flavored dairy products such as flavored milks and yogurts in helping children and adolescents meet their recommended daily intakes of dairy foods and dairy food nutrients is recognized and supported by 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans American Academy of Pediatrics National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in School The National Academy of Science in its newly released nutrition standards for competitive foods in schools recognizes the nutritional value of flavored milk and yogurts with modest amounts of added sugars.

Conclusions High intake of foods and beverages with added sugars and low nutrient density can contribute to excess calorie intakes leading to weight gain and nutrient displacement. When used in moderation, sugars can increase the appeal of nutrient-dense foods and beverages providing additional choices to meet nutritional needs in the context of a healthful diet. First bullet-For this reason health professionals and government agencies call for a reduced intake of added sugars.

Conclusions Are all added sugars bad? NO! It is important to ensure that nutrition education messages regarding intake of sugars do not discourage the consumption of high nutrient dense foods and beverages such as flavored milks and yogurts! So in conclusion—are all added sugars bad? No!

Questions?