There is nothing wrong with a little sugar once in a while. After all, it makes food taste delicious. What would a bowl of oatmeal be without a swirl of brown sugar?
The problem is the average American eats the equivalent of 20 teaspoons (40 grams) of added sugar a day. That’s twice the recommended amount.
Keep in mind that we are not talking about the sugar that’s naturally occurring in foods like fruit and milk products, even vegetables contain some sugar.
It’s refined sugar that is added to foods and beverages. One 12-ounce can of regular soda has the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar.
Try these simple steps to keep your sweet tooth in balance:
Switch to sugar-free, calorie-free drinks like water. For a splash of flavor, add lemon or orange slices, or try sparkling water with a little fruit juice.
Buy unsweetened cereals and yogurts and add your own sugar for flavor. Chances are, you will use much less than the food manufacturers do.
Keep portions small: Go ahead, have dessert … a few times a week.
Read food labels: Grams of sugar are listed on the food label, but the label doesn’t distinguish between naturally occurring sugars and added sugar. So even 1 cup of plain milk will show 12 grams.
Read the ingredients list: Look for added sugar in all its guises: fructose, cane sugar, corn syrup and maltodextrin.
Opt for honey, maple syrup and molasses: These less-refined sweeteners give you some minerals and antioxidants.
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