A spoonful of sugar is not necessary to enjoy a glass of tea, according to studies.
This was the result of a month-long analysis by London researchers who examined the tea drinking habits of 64 men who usually drank tea with sugar. Participants were asked to either stop adding sugar to their tea, gradually reduce the amount of sugar they add, or continue drinking tea with sugar.
After four weeks, the researchers found that those who stopped adding sugar or reduced the amount of sugar still enjoyed the tea to the fullest. By the end of the experiment, 42% of men who had been in the group of those who had gradually reduced the amount of sugar, had completely stopped adding sugar to tea.
The authors of the study concluded that excessive sugar consumption is a public health problem and the sugar in regular drinks contributes enormously to the increase in the amount of sugar we consume. Britons consume around 700g of sugar per week, which is equivalent to 140 teaspoons per person. This amount exceeds the allowed daily amount, which is about 210g per week or 30g per day.
The results of another study show that a diet rich in sugar can lead to depression. Sugars can trigger inflammatory, neurobiological and metabolic processes that are associated with depressive symptoms. When combined with a lack of sun exposure during the winter, a diet filled with processed foods that contain high levels of sugar can be dangerous to mental health.