CUTTING BACK ON SUGAR

Today's post is basically a continuation of yesterday's post about sugar.  I thought I should probably add some additional information so I will dedicate today's column to sugar also.  

• Sugar is listed in many different forms on the nutritional labels you should be reading.  If it appears within the first 5 ingredients listed on packaged foods, move on to another item.  You need to be aware that the following are all different ways of "saying" sugar:

1. sugar (of course)
2. brown sugar (white sugar with molasses added)
3. corn syrup
4. dextrose
5. fructose
6. high-fructose corn syrup (a highly processed form of sugar made from corn starch and fructose)
7. honey (natural sweetener that contains fructose and glucose)
8. molasses (this is made by boiling down sugar from sugar cane)
9. sucrose (plain white sugar)
10. turbinado (made by spinning sugar cane extract in a centrifuge or turbine to create large brown crystals)

• You can be drinking a lot of added sugar if you choose products labeled "cocktail," "punch," etc rather than 100% juice.  You can even lower the natural sugar from 100% fruit juice by mixing your juice with a little seltzer or plain water.
• Acidic foods often have sugar added to cut the acidity.  Check the labels on tomato products especially.  You will find different brands have different amounts of sugar.  As a diabetic, I always check the labels when I buy a jarred or canned spaghetti sauce.  It is amazing the variations in sugars.

If you cut your sugar consumption in half, you will be amazed at how much better you will feel.