Sugar has become public enemy number one in the eyes of health fanatics in recent years - and now scientists have found that the sweet stuff doesn't even make tea more enjoyable.
In a study by a team from University College London and the University of Leeds, scientists found that sugar doesn't make tea more enjoyable.
What's more, they found that those who cut it out, or gradually reduced it over time, still enjoyed their daily cuppa just as much.
They believe that the study shows long-term changes in tea-drinking behaviour are possible.
Advert
They explained: "Excess sugar intake is a public health problem and sugar in beverages contributes substantially to total intake. Reducing sugar intake from beverages may therefore help to reduce overall consumption".
The team analysed data for 64 men who drank tea sweetened by sugar daily, who were forced to follow a new habit for a month.
The group was split equally between men who gradually reduced the sugar in their drink over four weeks, those who quit in one drastic step, and a control group who continued to drink sweet tea.
Advert
The results showed that the sugar reduction groups were able to cut out sugar without it actually affecting how much they enjoyed their tea - with even 6 per cent of the people in the control group quitting sugar in their brew altogether.
The numbers otherwise aren't actually that in favour for cutting sugar out of tea - with only 42 per cent of the reduction group managing to cut it out of their diet, and even less in the sugar elimination group at 36 per cent.
The researchers concluded: "Individuals can successfully reduce the amount of sugar consumed in tea using two different behavioural strategies.
"Similar interventions could be used to reduce intake of sugar in other beverages such as dilutable fruit juices (eg squash), as well". They added that a bigger trial would be required to confirm the findings.
Advert
Health officials recommend no more than seven teaspoons of added sugar a day, but the average Briton consumes almost double that.
While reducing our sugar intake might not be a bad idea, sugar isn't necessarily the enemy - however these findings suggesting that it is possible to reduce your intake while still enjoying a nice cuppa at the end of the day.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash
