Enjoying a balanced diet is a really important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. The UK Department of Health recommends that men consume roughly 2500 calories a day, while women should consume around 2000 calories.

While it’s important to eat a varied diet, including 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, there’s also room for a little of what you enjoy. Whether it’s a slice of cake on a Sunday or Demerara in your cappuccino, the key is making it part of a varied diet.

As a carbohydrate, sugar acts as a source of energy and is fat-free. Nutritional experts recommend that adults and children over two make up 55% of their diet from carbohydrate. The remainder should be made up from proteins and fats.

Sweetness is the only taste the body is programmed to respond positively to. It improves the flavour of foods and often widens the range of foods people will eat, such as high fibre breakfast cereals and sour or bitter fruits.

Obviously exercise is also important. It can help you feel more energetic and also releases endorphins making you feel happier. In fact, it’s recommended that we all exercise 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes.

As sugar is a natural source of carbohydrate it can help contribute to a healthy lifestyle. However, if you’re watching those extra calories, we’ve developed a range of lower Calorie sweetening products to help you.

To find out more about sugar click the links on the left. Or visit Sugar Nutrition UK.