Doctor issues warning over ‘healthy’ drink with as much sugar as Coca-Cola

Fruit smoothies can provide a refreshing burst of vitamins and fibre, as well as helping you reach the recommended intake of five fruits and vegetables per day. But a diabetes doctor has warned that the supposedly “healthy” drink can be laden with sugar. Dr David Cavan is the author of new book Managing Type 2 Diabetes: A guide to reducing symptoms and improving your health.

He said: "In terms of sugar content, smoothies are on a par with Coke. “It does not matter that the sugar is 'natural' (that is, it originally came from fruit) — it is still sugar, and will have a big impact on the level of glucose, and therefore insulin, in your bloodstream." Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition often linked to lifestyle and dietary factors.



It occurs when the body cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. Fruits contain natural sugars which can be concentrated in smoothies. Some store-bought smoothies also contain added sugar.

The Eatwell Guide recommends that a serving of fruit juice of smoothie should be limited to no more than 150ml per day. However, many smoothies sold in supermarkets or food outlets come in much larger portions. Dr Cavan warned that drinking too many sugary drinks like fruit smoothies could jeopardise the health of diabetics in remission.

He added: “I would even say that I don't think it's possible to manage Type 2 diabetes if you continue to drink sugar in this way.” The doctor also suggested that fizzy drinks fans should at least switch to diet versions that use artificial sweeteners. He explained: “Sweeteners can also cause problems but they are a much better option than sugar.

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