Did you know that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or also known as sugary drinks are one of the leading sources of added sugars in our daily diet? Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages regularly is associated with weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, tooth decay, and many more! The average cans of sugar-sweetened soda or fruit juice provides about 150 calories, almost all of them from added sugar. Excessive sugar intake can lead to excessive calorie intake which can lead to weight gain.

SSBs are any drinks that are sweetened with different types of added sugars like raw sugar, brown sugar, gula melaka, fructose, lactose, maltose, dextrose, malt syrup, honey, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, molasses, and sucrose. Examples of SSBs are juice boxes, sports drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, regular soda and the list goes on!

Limit your sugar intakes by :

• Opting out sugar-sweetened beverages for calorie-free drinks
• Using natural sweeteners such as honey to avoid using simple sugars
• Add spices as flavour enhancers such as cinnamon powder
• Using artificial sweeteners such as Stevia and Splenda
• Add natural fruits mixers as substitute sweeteners
• Choose an alternative brand that has less sugar content in the beverages
• Make your own drink so you know what you put onto it!