As a nation we love biscuits, with more than 200 million of them consumed across the UK every day. Whether to dunk in our tea or just as a sweet treat on its own, it’s clear we can’t get enough of them.
None of us are under any pretence that they are amazing for our health though.
Many are high in sugar and some are even coated in chocolate, meaning they’re not something that should be eaten in vast quantities.
While the occasional bicky is nothing to worry about, it is worth keeping in mind the calorie, sugar and fat content.
With this in mind, an expert spoke exclusively with Express.co.uk about the best – and worst – types of British biscuit you can eat for your health.
Harley Street nutritionist, Kate Cook, explained: “Everyone enjoys a sweet treat from time to time, even though we know that a sneaky biscuit isn’t always the healthiest choice.
“The key consideration when indulging in a sweet treat is the sugar content, as this allows you to make better comparisons and choices.”
She warned against eating too many chocolate-coated biscuits. This includes chocolate digestives, which were recently named in a survey as Britain’s favourite biscuit.
“Larger, chocolate-coated biscuits typically contain more sugar per serving,” Kate said.
“I am thinking of bars that come as four chocolate-covered fingers – their sugar content can be as high as 22 grams.
“Also, chocolate digestives (per two-biscuit serving) contain nearly 10 grams of sugar, similar to Hobnob and other British classics.”
If you are a fan of digestives, opting for the pain version is a more health-conscious option.
Kate continued: “A better option might be a plain digestive, which, per two biscuits, contains only five grams of sugar (about a teaspoon).
“Focusing on sugar content is important not just for dental health, but also for energy management.
“High sugar intake can cause fluctuation of the hormones that control blood sugar, leading to energy crashes, and tiredness, and promote fat storage.”
If you still need something to satisfy that sweet craving though there are healthier biscuits out here.
Kate recommended looking for those that are high in wholegrains such as oats.
“So if that little sweet treat is calling, look out for the total sugar content and wholegrain proportions,” she said.
“Oats provide slow-release energy, helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels and sustained energy throughout the day.
“This can enhance your ability to concentrate, control hunger, and maintain vitality from morning to evening.”
An example of these types of biscuits include coconut and chia oat biscuits by Nairn, which contain 63 percent oats.