UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations health age­ncy on Wednesday recommended that adults and children worldwide reduce their daily sugar intake to boost health and stave off non-communicable diseases a press statement by the age­ncy said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says intake of ‘free’ sugars – monosaccharides (such as glucose, fructose) and disaccharides (such as sucrose or table sugar) – should make up less than 10 per cent of daily energy intake, while a reduction below five per cent of energy intake per day would provide additional benefits.

“We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay,” said, Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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