The Heart and Stroke Foundation is trying to raise awareness about sugar sweetened beverages.

Community Nutrition and Northern Outreach Manager Amanda Nash says youth in Northern Manitoba have a high intake of sugary beverages:

"We did a short study here in Manitoba last May, looking at Northern Manitoba in 9 communities. We surveyed about 500 students gr.5 to gr.8 and we found that 70% of those students were consuming sugar sweetened beverages at least 3 times a day".

Data shows that across Canada one third of children and youth consume at least one sugar sweetened beverage per day.

Nash says eating too much sugar is linked to a variety of health complications including heart disease, obesity, and cancer.  

She hopes introducing policies in municipalities will help reduce the intake. She was in Thompson yesterday raising awareness on the drinks.