I try to have a healthy diet but I'm baffled about sugar. I assume it's on the 'no' list but as it hasn't got fat in it, what's the harm?

Thanks for your question Roy. Eating foods with sugar in, from time to time, shouldn’t be a problem, but if you eat lots of these foods it could increase your risk of health problems.

The main issue with sugar and heart health is that, because sugar is high in calories, too much of it can make you put on weight. If you become overweight it can increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes.

A high sugar intake can also increase the risk of other health conditions and tooth decay.

You may find it helpful to read our booklet Eating Well which has information about sugar and how to have a healthy balanced diet. You may also find our food labelling leaflet useful. This gives you an idea of how much sugar is considered 'a lot' or 'a little'.