12
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Volume1 Issue6
N
ews and
E
vents
TheFoundation recommends a limit to theamount of sugar an individual consumes each
day: 10%of total calorie intakeand ideally less than5%. For anaverage2,000calorie-a-day
diet, 10% is equivalent toabout 48gramsof sugar (12 teaspoons) and5% is equivalent to
about 24gramsof sugar (6 teaspoons).
The recommendation isbasedonconsumptionof “free
sugars,” definedby theWorldHealthOrganization (WHO)
as sugars and syrups added to foodsduringprocessingor
preparation, plus sugars found inhoney, syrups and fruit
juices. The recommendationdoesnot include sugars found
inmilk, vegetables, fruit, legumes, grains, seeds andnuts.
According to someestimates, free sugar consumption
amongCanadians exceeds 11-13%of total calorie intake.
Sugarydrinks, like soft drinks and sportsdrinks, are the
largest singlecontributor of sugar in thediet,withone
standard sized soft drink (355mL) deliveringup to40grams
(10 teaspoons) of sugar.
The recommendation supports thoseof theWHO,which
released itsdraft guidelineon sugars inMarch.
a
HeartandStrokeFoundationRecommends
CuttingDown onSugar
HeartandStrokeposition
statement:
CDA’ssuggestions forcutting
downonsugar:
CDA’sPositionStatement
on JunkFoodandChildHealth
cautionsagainstdrinkswith
highsugarcontent:
The label changes apply toall classesof controlledand
extended releasenon-genericopioids, although theywill
soonbe implemented for genericopioids.
Changeson thenew labels include:
• Removingapproval for usewith “moderatepain.”
• Clarifying that theprescriptionof controlled-release
opioids are indicated for “management of pain severe
enough to requiredaily, continuous, long-termopioid
treatment that isopioid-responsiveand forwhich
alternative treatment options arenot adequate.”
• Adding strongerwarnings about thedangersof opioid
addictions andclarifying the risks, including the risks
tochildrenaccidentallyexposed toopioids and to
newborns exposedduringpregnancy.
Dentistshavean important role toplay inpreventingharms
causedby theuse,misuse, or abuseof prescriptionpain
killers andother opioiddrugs, through their prescribing
practises andpatient communications.
a
NEWLABELSFOROPIOIDS
Encourage Safer Use
Formore informationon
HealthCanada’s labellingchange, visit
HealthCanadahas
changed the labels
on controlled-release
opioidpainmedicines
to encourage their
saferuse.Thenew
labels provide clearer
guidance onpatient
selectionand clarify the
risks associatedwith
theiruse.
Canadians should limithowmuch
sugar they consume toavoidheart
disease, obesity, toothdecay, and
other serioushealth consequences
associatedwith excess sugar
consumption, according toa recent
position statementfrom theHeart
andStrokeFoundation.
