Sugar in Tea

Backstreet Moyes

Just wondering can anybody tell me if it's very bad having sugar in tea. I find sitting in an office and looking at a computer screen i need some energy.

I have green tea with breakfast around half seven i don't particularly like it but it's supposed to be good to kick start the morning, or so i was told.

In work i would have tea when i start at 9, another around 11, another at 1 and lastly around half 3 to get me over the last few hours.

In the evening i might have one or two cups sitting down watching TV.

In each cup i take a spoon and a half of sugar using a small spoon. I have cut down from 2 but any less and i just don't enjoy the tea.

Can anybody tell me is this a big problem 5 days a week i wouldn't bother much on weekends.

I am trying to improve my diet and it's probably small things like this that i need to try improve.

Penny Tration

Well it means you're having about 9 spoons of sugar (or 36g) a day. That's a hell of a lot to have just for tea.

Why not switch to stevia or some other sweetener?

whiskeyman

Nuts102 wrote: »

In each cup i take a spoon and a half of sugar using a small spoon. I have cut down from 2 but any less and i just don't enjoy the tea.

I used to have 2 per cup also.

went down to 1, and quickly after cut it out totally.

I can't imagine it with sugar now.
Onec you got cold turkey, you will stop craving it after time, and a cuppa will taste lovely without it.

I still need a spoon if I'm having a fryup with a hangover though

Sunny Dayz

I drink about as much tea as yourself. It is possible to get down the sugar. I was practically reared on 2 spoons of sugar in the tea. But my husband unknown to me when we moved in together started making my tea with one sugar, I didn't notice but it did find that the tea I had in work sometimes tasted sweeter and I just thought I put two generous spoons in. Now I am down to a bare one spoon and find tea with two sugars too sweet. I am hoping to get down to half a spoon soon. I can make myself drink tea with no sugar if I have a sweet biscuit with it.
I've cut out my 1 o'clock cuppa and have a glass of water with my lunch.

Backstreet Moyes

Penny Tration wrote: »

Well it means you're having about 9 spoons of sugar (or 36g) a day. That's a hell of a lot to have just for tea.

Why not switch to stevia or some other sweetener?

When you put it like that yes it is quite a lot i will have to try make a change.

I must look into Stevia i never heard of it before. I tried Hermaceetas, unsure of the spelling as a sweetener and couldn't take to it.

I have started this morning with cutting it down to one spoon and to try get used to that. Eventually half a spoon and then come off it altogether hopefully.

Zillah

The main reason you are craving sugar is because you keep dosing yourself with it every few hours - blood sugar spike, insulin trough. Sugar isn't solving the problem, it's causing it. To me it sounds like a massive amount of sugar to be having on top of normal food. Liquid sugar is a great way to squeeze extra, worthless calories into your diet without even noticing.

If you could kick that sugar habit altogether you'd find yourself not needing anything to "get through" the day. Needing that isn't normal and you only feel that way because you've gotten into a very bad habit. If I were you, I'd set a long term goal of cutting sugary tea out of your diet altogether. You'll feel better for it (in the long term, it'll probably feel horrible in the short term, but that's what happens when you try to kick a habit).

What are your meals like? Craving sugar between meals could also be a sign that you're not eating enough, and you'd be better off having two lunches than nine spoons of sugar every day.

Backstreet Moyes

Zillah wrote: »

The main reason you are craving sugar is because you keep dosing yourself with it every few hours - blood sugar spike, insulin trough. Sugar isn't solving the problem, it's causing it. To me it sounds like a massive amount of sugar to be having on top of normal food. Liquid sugar is a great way to squeeze extra, worthless calories into your diet without even noticing.

If you could kick that sugar habit altogether you'd find yourself not needing anything to "get through" the day. Needing that isn't normal and you only feel that way because you've gotten into a very bad habit. If I were you, I'd set a long term goal of cutting sugary tea out of your diet altogether. You'll feel better for it (in the long term, it'll probably feel horrible in the short term, but that's what happens when you try to kick a habit).

What are your meals like? Craving sugar between meals could also be a sign that you're not eating enough, and you'd be better off having two lunches than nine spoons of sugar every day.

Breakfast:
Green Tea and Rice Krispies/Weetabix

Pre Lunch:
Banana/Orange

Lunch:
Two chicken fillets cooked in coconut oil and soya sauce/Ham and Cheese Sandwhich

Dinner:
Chicken Maryland/Steak/Chicken Fillets/Lamb Chops with Beans/Peas/Frozen veg

Snacks the odd evening:
Share Microwave Popcorn/Bag of Doritos/Chocolate bar

I think you are right about slowly cutting down altogether. Started on cutting to one spoon this morning and i am not enjoying it as much. I am just going to keep at it until i get used to it.

mahoganygas

What about a spoonful of honey instead?
Tastes great with green tea.

Tiddlypeeps

Penny Tration wrote: »

Well it means you're having about 9 spoons of sugar (or 36g) a day. That's a hell of a lot to have just for tea.

Why not switch to stevia or some other sweetener?

That's only 144 calories, unless I'm missing something?

It's definitely something most people could do without as it's empty calories, but I feel like people in this thread might be blowing it a bit out of proportion. That's not much more calories than a large banana.

If weight loss is the goal then the sugar in the tea is probably not the biggest issue. Try tracking everything you eat using My Fitness Pal for a week or so just to see where your problem areas are. Unless you are a very petit person I would find it hard to believe that 144 calories from sugar in your tea is your biggest problem. For example from what you have listed below your evening snack could often cover twice that, a lot of chocolate bars are 250/300 calories.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating putting sugar in your tea, if you can cut it out then it will only benefit you. But a bit of perspective can be good, energy would be best spent tackling the worst parts of your diet first. Which could end up being the tea, but I think thats unlikely.

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

That's only 144 calories, unless I'm missing something?

It's not just about calorie content. It's the quantity of sugar that doesn't account for any sugar in food consumed.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It's not just about calorie content. It's the quantity of sugar that doesn't account for any sugar in food consumed.

Whats your point?

Penny Tration

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It's not just about calorie content. It's the quantity of sugar that doesn't account for any sugar in food consumed.

This. It's feck all calories, but I'd be worried about the amount of sugar, and that's totally forgetting about the sugar in food too. Op must be spiking and crashing repeatedly throughout the day!

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Whats your point?

The quantity of sugar is the point.

The calorie content isn't everything.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

The quantity of sugar is the point.

Helpful and specific...

As I said, it would be great if the OP could cut it out anyway, but it's probably not the biggest problem with their diet so tracking would be a really god idea to figure out what the biggest problems are, and tackle them in order of priority.

OP might have a much easier time cutting out a chocolate bar in the evening than cutting out the tea. That's easily 25g+ of sugar and 10g+ of fat. If that happened to be the OP's biggest issue then it would likely be much easier to cut this out than the habitual cup of tea and it would be much more beneficial. I say if because only the OP can know if they track, all we have to go on is a very basic list without much of an idea of portions.

Obviously the ideal would be to cut out both, but the best changes you can make in your diet are firstly the ones you can stick to and secondly the ones that have the biggest impact.

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Helpful and specific...

I'm not sure why you're being so aggressive and OI'm not sure how specific you want me to be.

36g of sugar in tea alone is very high. That's the issue.

That doesn't account for the sugar consumed in food and drinks.

High sugar intake on a consistent basis has a host of potential negatives on someone's health, e.g. insulin resistance etc. It's not just about the calorific value of the choices.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I'm not sure why you're being so aggressive and OI'm not sure how specific you want me to be.

36g of sugar in tea alone is very high. That's the issue.

That doesn't account for the sugar consumed in food and drinks.

High sugar intake on a consistent basis has a host of potential negatives on someone's health, e.g. insulin resistance etc. It's not just about the calorific value of the choices.

Not sure why you think I'm being aggressive.

I simply suggested that the OP take a look a their diet as a whole.

You respond "but sugar is bad", which doesn't contradict or add to anything I've said and when asked to elaborate on why you quoted me saying "sugar is bad" you respond with "sugar is bad". Can you see why I might have seen that response as unhelpful?

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

You respond "but sugar is bad", which doesn't contradict or add to anything I've said and when asked to elaborate on why you quoted me saying "sugar is bad" you respond with "sugar is bad". Can you see why I might have seen that response as unhelpful?

You're being disingenuous now. What you've said is framed entirely in the context of calories. I said 36g is too high when that's just the tea added to sugar and that it isn't just about calorie content.

The effects of sugar go beyond calorie content. There's not much positive about insulin resistance.

If the OP is getting 36g through just the cups of tea, then it would suggest the sugar intake is a lot higher likely to be lot higher when all food and drinks are taken into account.

If it's just about weight then yes, CI/CO. But the health impacts of anything aren't defined entirely by the calories within the food and whether or not it is too high in and of itself.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

You're being disingenuous now. What you've said is framed entirely in the context of calories. I said 36g is too high when that's just the tea added to sugar and that it isn't just about calorie content.

The effects of sugar go beyond calorie content. There's not much positive about insulin resistance.

If the OP is getting 36g through just the cups of tea, then it would suggest the sugar intake is a lot higher likely to be lot higher when all food and drinks are taken into account.

If it's just about weight then yes, CI/CO. But the health impacts of anything aren't defined entirely by the calories within the food and whether or not it is too high in and of itself.

Not sure how I'm being disingenuous. Your previous post and this one can be summed up with "sugar is bad", which absolutely nobody, including myself, is disagreeing with.

I'm really not sure what the point of this back and forth is. Do you disagree with the advice I've given the OP? If so then what part and why?

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Not sure how I'm being disingenuous. Your previous post and this one can be summed up with "sugar is bad", which absolutely nobody, including myself, is disagreeing with.

I'm really not sure what the point of this back and forth is. Do you disagree with the advice I've given the OP? If so then what part and why?

I haven't said sugar is bad nor have I said there is a problem with eating sugar. Not even once. That's why it's not saying sugar is bad.

Key word: quantity.

I wouldn't disagree that if calories in and calories out are key in weight loss. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be mindful of the quantity of sugar you consume.

That's not saying sugar is bad. It's saying too much sugar is bad.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I haven't said sugar is bad nor have I said there is a problem with eating sugar. Not even once. That's why it's not saying sugar is bad.

Key word: quantity.

I wouldn't disagree that if calories in and calories out are key in weight loss. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be mindful of the quantity of sugar you consume.

That's not saying sugar is bad. It's saying too much sugar is bad.

Fine "lots of sugar is bad", again not disagreeing with you.

If you have a problem with the advice I've given the OP feel free to challenge it. Otherwise I'm going to stop responding, I really have no idea what you want here or why you are quoting me saying the same thing over and over that has almost nothing to do with the advice I've given.

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Fine "lots of sugar is bad", again not disagreeing with you.

If you have a problem with the advice I've given the OP feel free to challenge it. Otherwise I'm going to stop responding, I really have no idea what you want here or why you are quoting me saying the same thing over and over that has almost nothing to do with the advice I've given.

Your advice was solely about calorie content. I quoted you originally making the general point that with sugar the calorie content is less of an issue.

Then you decided to misrepresent what I'd said over and over.

Anyway, OP, I would look at reducing the amount of sugar you're getting into your diet. Reducing the amount of sugar in your tea is probably the easiest way to do it.

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Your advice was solely about calorie content.

Eh.. No it wasn't. I compared the calories from the tea to a large banana, which is mostly sugar. I even broke down the macros of a chocolate bar in to sugar and fat. I suggested using My Fitness Pal to track what they eat, which helpfully tracks both calories and macros, to see where the biggest problems are.

syklops

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Eh.. No it wasn't. I compared the calories from the tea to a large banana, which is mostly sugar. I even broke down the macros of a chocolate bar in to sugar and fat. I suggested using My Fitness Pal to track what they eat, which helpfully tracks both calories and macros, to see where the biggest problems are.

I think Alfs point was your advice, while none of it incorrect, didn't look at the potential detrimental effects of that much sugar coming solely from an unnecessary source, such as in tea.

You compared the amount of sugar the OP was consuming to the same calorific content of a banana, but didn't look at the difference between fructose the sugar in a banana and sucrose, the sugar the OP is using in their tea.

The OP didn't mention an interest in weight loss. They were looking for the health impact of having that much sugar.

Tiddlypeeps

syklops wrote: »

I think Alfs point was your advice, while none of it incorrect, didn't look at the potential detrimental effects of that much sugar coming solely from an unnecessary source, such as in tea.

I stated repeatedly in my post that the extra sugar is something most could do without.

syklops wrote: »

You compared the amount of sugar the OP was consuming to the same calorific content of a banana, but didn't look at the difference between fructose the sugar in a banana and sucrose, the sugar the OP is using in their tea.

I didn't mention any difference because I'm not aware of one. Both Fructose and Sucrose are monosaccharides, I wouldn't have thought there would be different health implications of choosing one over the other since they are so molecularly similar, but that could easily be wrong. Feel free to provide sources if you have evidence to the contrary. It's certainly and interesting point to bring to the OP's attention if true.

syklops wrote: »

The OP didn't mention an interest in weight loss. They were looking for the health impact of having that much sugar.

I did assume OP was looking for advice with weight loss in mind, but either way my advice still stands, track and see where the problems are, no idea why that advice is so controversial.

Alf Veedersane

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

no idea why that advice is so controversial.

Your advice wasn't questioned. Tracking and calorie counting is good advice for weight loss.

But in the specific instance of adding sugar to tea and the added sugar to food in general, you need to be mindful of the quantity you're consuming. The OP adds 36g of sugar to his tea daily. That's a lot and it's definitely worth addressing.

That didn't invalidate anything you said. It was more about an additional point of note

Tiddlypeeps

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Your advice was solely about calorie content.

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Your advice wasn't questioned. Tracking and calorie counting is good advice for weight loss.

Not sure if you are back peddling or just and extremely confusing individual to discuss anything with. Either way I'll leave you to it, good luck.

Alf Veedersane

It's not easy when to type an explanation with sock puppets on your hands.

ford2600

OP if you are still here this is what I think.

Sugar is a fantastic nutrient, but is very much dose and timing dependent how fantastic or awful it can be.

If you want to deadlift twice your body weight, set a pb on a hill climb then having plenty sugar in your blood/muscles is the way to go. A little after you finish can be good to.

But for sitting at a desk, other than for brain function fat(body or dietary)is ideal for sedentary functions.

When you start your day with such a carb heavy breakfast and continue with your sugar trickle you will inhibit your body's ability to access fat stores and it will call for sugar (or foods which quickly break down into blood sugar all day long).

The human body is super adaptable and with a few changes you can make sure your valueable glucose/glycogen/sugar (whatever you want to call it) is kept for brain function and high intensity and fat for the low intensity stuff.

*Stop adding sugar to diet except around high intensity exercise
* have a protein/fat/veg based start to the day
* fast until lunch once a week, you won't die!

Although YMMV and that of others in two years with diet changes and adaptive training I've gone from a constant grazer to someone who can cycle a tough hilly 180km or so completely fasted.

DarkoT

Try to put some organic honey in your tea, instead of sugar.

danslevent

I like sweet tea too but if you have herbal tea instead and pop in a slice of lemon, it is a good substitute!

MartyMcFly84

What about a spoonful of honey instead?
Tastes great with green tea.

That's still sugar. Just in a different form, replacing one form of sugar with another is not going to solve the problem.

Pretty much all the health benefits of green teas are completely obliterated if you add sugar to it, including honey.

rubadub

MartyMcFly84 wrote: »

That's still sugar. Just in a different form

Honey is sweeter than sugar per calorie so you can use less to have the same level of sweetness.

The 36g figure mentioned is about the same as a 330ml can of coke.

MartyMcFly84

Honey is sweeter than sugar per calorie so you can use less to have the same level of sweetness.

The 36g figure mentioned is about the same as a 330ml can of coke.

Yes put it also has a higher calorie content. So it basically balances out.

The pros of using honey over sugar are minimal and excessive consumption of either is more a danger to your health than the minimal differences between the two.

There are plenty of studies linking the dangers just one can of coke a day can do to the body.

For weight loss alone 36g a day of sugar equals 52,560 extra calories a year from non nutrient source. That can easily equal over 6kg or a stone through little less than eliminating sugar from your tea or not drinking a can of coke a day.

rubadub

MartyMcFly84 wrote: »

Yes put it also has a higher calorie content. So it basically balances out.

Not sure what you mean by that?

Honey has less calories per gram than sugar, as it has water in it.

So 10g of honey has less calories than 10g of sugar.

Honey is more sweet so you need less calories. Or less "honey sugar" if you were to remove all the water weight, you still need less weight. Conversely glucose is less sweet tasting than sugar/sucrose so it can be put in energy drinks to give you more calories while not tasting overly sweet.

MartyMcFly84 wrote: »

There are plenty of studies linking the dangers just one can of coke a day can do to the body.

Any links?

Zillah

If someone came on here and said they were drinking a can of coke with their breakfast every morning, and asked if that was bad, there would be consensus of "Yes, that is bad, don't do it". Why people are defending it in tea form I don't know.

Feckin Irish :pac:

MartyMcFly84

So 10g of honey has less calories than 10g of sugar.

Everywhere I am looking says the opposite

Teaspoon of sugar = 16 calories teaspoon of Honey = 22 calories.

Here is one (source at bottom of article)

http://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/diet-diabetes-news-178/dropping-one-sugary-soda-a-day-could-cut-diabetes-risk-study-698964.html

Dropping one can a day could reduce the risk of type 2 Diabetes by up to 25%.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/06/sugary-drinks-heart-disease-risk.aspx

Also increasing risk of heart disease and can raise blood pressure.

Basically consuming 36g of sugar a day from tea alone is not something you would want to be doing if easily avoided. Keep in mind thats not including any sugar from other drinks, snacks, chocolate or meals eaten throughout the day. Some orange juice in the morning and a chocolate bar in the evening and you are looking at 70g a day.

If its something consumed every now and again its not going to make a major difference, but if almost daily it can lead to unhealthy weight gain and increase the risk of a bunch of other chronic diseases.

rubadub

MartyMcFly84 wrote: »

Everywhere I am looking says the opposite

Teaspoon of sugar = 16 calories teaspoon of Honey = 22 calories.

Everywhere? did you find a single site showing 10g of honey having more calories than 10g of sugar?

Teaspoons are a very vague measure, it could be level and the honey one is probably counting the fact that honey will coat the underside of the spoon.

http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=253850061
sugar 100g = 400kcal

http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=255131978
boyne valley honey 100g = 338kcal

http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=258158216
tesco value honey 100g = 326kcal

I thought your studies were going to specificially about the damage coke does to the body. I was curious to see the effects and to see if coca-cola made counter arguments, I wondered about the phosphoric acid, not just the sugar.

MartyMcFly84

Everywhere? did you find a single site showing 10g of honey having more calories than 10g of sugar

Ok I think you are right when I search per gram, the teaspoon was a vague measurement. However there is not much of a difference either way.

The main issue on this thread is the avoidable excessive consumption of sugar on a day to day basis. Honey should be treated for what it is , another form a sugar and not mislabelled as some kind of health food. Which seems to be happening.