Recently updated on September 26th, 2024 at 09:06 pm
No added sugar squash is a popular choice for people looking to cut down on their sugar intake. It is often seen as a healthier alternative to sugary drinks such as fruit juice or fizzy drinks. But is it really that good for you? What ingredients are in no added sugar squash and are they healthy? How many calories does it have? Let’s take a closer look at this drink to see if it is actually good for you or not.
Table of contents
- Ingredients in no added sugar squash
- Nutritional values
- How much sugar is in no added sugar squash?
- How many calories are in no added sugar squash?
- Is drinking no added sugar squash as good as drinking water?
- Is no added sugar squash the same as sugar-free?
- Can babies have no added sugar squash?
- Can diabetics drink no added sugar squash?
- Is no added sugar squash keto?
- Is no added sugar squash bad for weight loss?
- Can you drink no added sugar squash when pregnant?
- Is no added sugar squash free on Slimming World?
- Is no added sugar squash healthy or unhealthy?
Ingredients in no added sugar squash
Water is the main ingredient in no added sugar squash. This is to be expected as squash is mostly water.
The next most frequent ingredient is juice from concentrate, which can be a combination of fruit juices such as Grape, Blackcurrant and Raspberry, or simply one flavor juice like orange.
An acidity regulator such as Sodium Citrate is also found in no added sugar squash. This is used to control the acidity or basicity of a solution. It can also be used as a preservative or to prevent the browning of fruit juices.
Natural flavouring is used to add flavour to the squash. This can be anything from fruits, vegetables, spices or herbs.
Sweeteners are used to sweeten the squash without adding sugar. The most common sweeteners in no added sugar squashes are acesulfame potassium and sucralose. Some no added sugar squashes (such as Ribena) contain aspartame.
Stabilisers are used to stabilise the liquid and prevent the separation of ingredients. The most common stabilisers in no added sugar squashes are pectin and cellulose gum.
Colours such as Beta Carotene are also often added to squashes to make them look more appealing.
The majority of these ingredients are generally considered safe. However, there are some potential side effects associated with them.
For example, acesulfame potassium has been linked to cancer in rats. Sucralose, on the other hand, can cause gastrointestinal issues.
Nutritional values
In terms of nutritional values, here’s how the top UK no added sugar squash brands compare side by side:
Nutritional values per 100ml diluted | Robinsons Orange Squash No Added Sugar | Ribena Blackcurrant Squash with No Added Sugar | Vimto Original No Added Sugar |
Energy | 1kcal | 2kcal | 2kcal |
Fat | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Carbohydrate | 0.1g | 0.4g | 0.3g |
– of which sugars | 0.1g | 0.3g | 0.3g |
Protein | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fibre | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Salt | 0.04g | 0.03g | 0.01g |
As you can see from the table above, the nutritional values do not differ much from one brand to another. All no added sugar squashes contain no fat, protein, or fibre. They are low in calories and contain a minimal amount of sugar and salt.
Aside from those on the list, it may also contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin C, and calcium, which your body needs. However, it’s important to note that these amounts are minimal. You can’t rely on these alone, and you need to get adequate vitamins and minerals from various food sources like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. That’s why it’s best to read the nutrition label and ingredient list carefully to ensure that your chosen brand covers what you need.
How much sugar is in no added sugar squash?
Although there is no added sugar in no added sugar squash, it still contains small amounts of natural sugars, mostly coming from fructose, a type of sugar found in fruits and fruit juices.
The amount of sugar in no added sugar squash can vary depending on the manufacturer. On average, there are 0.2 grams of sugar in every 100ml of diluted no added sugar squash.
This is not a lot of sugar and a serving of 250ml will contain less than half a teaspoon of sugar.
How many calories are in no added sugar squash?
No added sugar squashes are lower in calories than their sugary counterparts – for example, a 250ml serving of Ribena Blackcurrant Squash contains 49 calories compared to 6 calories found in the same amount of the No Added Sugar version.
FAQs
Is drinking no added sugar squash as good as drinking water?
The NHS advises that we should drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day. This can include water, lower-fat milk and lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks, such as fruit squash or diet soda.
So, if you’re trying to up your water intake, drinking no added sugar squash is a great way to do it.
Is no added sugar squash the same as sugar-free?
No, they are not the same. No added sugar squash still contains natural sugars, but sugar-free drinks have had all sugars removed. No added sugar squash contains low levels of natural sugar from fruit extracts or natural sweeteners like stevia or erythritol. These sweeteners don’t contain any calories and have a minimal impact on blood sugar levels, making them a popular alternative to sugar. Still, if you worry about them, it’s best to ask your doctor’s advice.
Can babies have no added sugar squash?
Babies over 6 months old can drink water and occasionally unsweetened fruit juice but should be given breast milk or formula as their main drink until they are 1 year old.
The NHS don’t recommend reduced-calorie beverages and no-added-sugar drinks for babies and young children as these can still encourage children to develop a sweet tooth.
So, no, you should not give your baby no added sugar squash.
Can diabetics drink no added sugar squash?
Yes, diabetics can drink no added sugar squash, but they need to be careful about how much they consume. No added sugar does not mean “no sugar” – the drink may still contain natural sugars that could impact your blood sugar levels.
It’s important to check the nutrition facts label and limit your intake of these drinks. Diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar levels closely and speak with their doctor about how no added sugar squash can fit into their overall treatment plan.
Is no added sugar squash keto?
No added sugar squash isn’t strictly keto as it still contains natural sugars. You need to check nutrition labels to see how many carbs contains per serving and count that as part of your daily carb limit.
Is no added sugar squash bad for weight loss?
Most people looking to lose weight focus on cutting calories, and for good reason. Reducing calorie intake can help to create a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight loss.
Replacing sugary drinks with no added sugar squash will help you reduce your daily calorie intake and consequently that may help you lose weight.
However, no added sugar squash contains artificial sweeteners which should not be consumed excessively. That’s because they can actually make you eat more to make up for the calories you saved while drinking calorie-reduced squash.
Can you drink no added sugar squash when pregnant?
You have to take care when drinking no added sugar squash when pregnant. That’s because no added sugar squash contains artificial sweeteners and consuming artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy has been linked to having a heavier baby.
Although no added sugar squash is considered to be safe to consume during pregnancy, it’s best to limit its intake.
Is no added sugar squash free on Slimming World?
Yes, no added sugar squash is free on Slimming World. This is because Slimming World uses a traffic light system to classify foods and drinks, and no added sugar squash is classified as a green light drink.
Green light drinks are generally seen as the healthiest option and are therefore unlimited. This means that you can drink as much no added sugar squash as you like without it affecting your weight loss goal.
Is no added sugar squash healthy or unhealthy?
No added sugar squash is a healthy option for those looking to cut down on sugary drinks and lose some weight. It’s a good source of certain vitamins and it’s low in calories.
However, it does contain artificial sweeteners, which can have negative health effects so it’s important to moderate your intake.
You also need to keep in mind that no added sugar squash is not completely sugar-free as it does contain fruit juices which are a source of natural sugars. For this reason, diabetics should be careful about how much no added sugar squash they drink, as it can still impact blood sugar levels.
Overall though, no added sugar squash is a healthy choice for most people.