Added Sugar!

Sugar, we all love it!  Sugar comes into our food in two ways, natural sugar like it fruits and processed like cake.  There is a huge difference when eating natural vs processed sugar, however, sugar is still sugar.  According to the American Heart Association recommends that men should only eat 37.5 grams of added sugar per day and women 25 grams.  That is an additional 150 calories for men and 100 for women.  Let’s not forget the kids…they come in at only 12 grams of added sugar a day.  

So, let’s put this in perspective of food…. A glass of OJ has 5.5 teaspoons of sugar that is over 20 grams, just for a beverage.  Low fat yogurt, 8 oz. has 47 grams of sugar, sports drink has 32 grams of sugar in a 20-oz. bottle, oh, and let’s not forget the chocolate milk those kids die for at school lunch, 8 oz. comes in at 22 grams of sugar.   Plain milk carries 12 natural grams of sugar, which mean your child at lunch is drinking 10 grams of extra sugar.   I mean I could keep going, but I think you get my point. 

The Obesity Society states that sugar intake has increased 30% of the last 30 years.  Why is that?  Are we falling for the instant food packaging, grab this quick, flavored coffee bullshit.  Yes, that is part of it, the other part is the packaging of these products and how they are marketed.  They are drawing unknowing people in with their false promise of health.  We are told granola is good but its health comes with 25 grams of sugar.  Not all granola is created equal.  The food industry is doing a great job with advertising and product placement to create this facade that their food is healthy when actually it is the exact opposite. 

As a consumer, you need to read labels and understand what you should be eating and how much.  It is so easy to fall prey to what the food industry wants you to believe.  If you are not sure, ask.  There are people out there to help.  

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