Sugary Drinks, Dental Decay, Obesity and Diabetes

Sugary drinks are directly linked to dental decay, obesity and type 2 diabetes. New Zealand has poor statistics in all of these areas. Over two thirds of New Zealand adults are overweight, and just over a third are obese, and the prevalence of diabetes is escalating.

Sugary drink consumption in New Zealand has reached staggering proportions. On average every New Zealander consumes 115 liters per year, equivalent to 350 cans of soft drink per person per year. That is one can per day, which alone provides one and a half times the daily recommended maximum total sugar intake per day for an adult and three times the maximum for a child. (The recommended daily maximum intake of sugar for an adult is 6 teaspoons and 3 for a young child).

Sugary drinks are beverages that contain sugars that are added or naturally present, and include soft drinks, fruit juices (including 100% natural juices) sports and energy drinks, flavoured milks, and sweetened teas and coffees. Even though 100%  fruit juices are "natural" these drinks actually contain more sugar than the same volume of coke. We need to eat our fruit, not drink it.

Apart from a small amount of Vitamin C in fruit juices, there is no nutritional value in sugary drinks and should be consumed only as an occasional treat.

Regular drinks should be limited to water, milk and unsweetened tea and coffee.