PETALING JAYA: Consider sugar substitutes to fix one’s sweet tooth cravings or go for sugar-free foods and drinks instead, said a fitness professional.
Fitness, strength and conditioning coach Sebastian Tan said sugar itself is not detrimental to health when consumed wisely.
“Consuming anything in extreme amounts, even if they are foods perceived to be healthy, potentially causes more harm than good,” said Tan, who has 11 years of experience under his belt.
For those looking to consume the usual Malaysian beverages such as teh tarik, for example, Tan said the public could consider the non-sugar options.
“The same applies to canned soft drinks, where the public could opt for the sugar-free options.
“Keep consumption to a minimum, not because it is bad, but because these drinks are not the only things one consumes.
“As we know, Malaysians preferred food choices can be calorie dense. When added with the daily consumption of liquid calories, it results in a higher caloric intake,” he said, adding that a caloric surplus and lack of physical activities were main drivers behind weight gain, specifically fat gain.
“A high body fat intake could also possibly lead to higher probabilities of metabolic diseases such as diabetes,” he added.
Tan also said stevia could be an alternative for those having a sweet tooth.
“Stevia has no calories. Some may not enjoy using sweeteners due to the taste but if you want to fulfil your cravings while reducing caloric intake, consider using stevia,” he said.
Stevia is a sugar substitute made from the leaves of the stevia plant. It is about 100 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar, but has no carbohydrates, calories or artificial ingredients.
