Sugar ‘not necessary’ for a good cuppa

Are you one of those people who always reaches for the sugar pot to pour the sweet stuff into your cup of tea? Well, according to new research you might be wasting your time.

A spoonful of sugar, or two, it appears is unnecessary in cups of tea following a study where participants were able to cut it out without affecting their enjoyment – which could possibly mean that long term changes in behaviour could be made.

With sugar consumption high among the root causes of obesity, anything that can reduce our dependence on sugar could be a good thing. The study conducted by researchers from the University College London and the University of Leeds analysed data over one month for 64 men who usually drank sweetened tea. One group were to quit sugar in one drastic step whilst the other group had their sugar gradually reduced over the four week trial. A third control group continued to drink sweetened tea.

The conclusion of the study was that the groups who reduced their sugar were still able to enjoy the tea without sugar.