INTERESTING INFO ON SUGAR

NOTE: This is an article I wrote 9 years ago. 

As I was doing some research today at the college, I came across some interesting facts regarding sugar.  No wonder America has an obesity problem!

• The average American now eats approximately 28 teaspoons of added sugars a day.  That is more than 90 pounds per year.  Note this is added sugars which is those sugars that are added to food and not found in foods in their normal state.
• Read that above bullet again keeping this in mind: The American Heart Association recommends a limit of (added sugars) 100 calories of sugar or 6 teaspoons a day for women and only 150 calories or 9 teaspoons a day for men.
• Americans are spending almost a quarter of their grocery dollars on processed foods and sweets.  That number is twice what it was 20 years ago.  A side note from me - One of the best things you can do for yourself and your weight and/or health is to cut way back on processed foods.  Use as many fresh, frozen, and/or whole foods as you can.
• You know I always stress that you read the nutritional labels on anything that goes in your mouth.  Keep this in mind regarding sugar content on said labels, the sugar amount listed is the combined natural and added sugars.  To see the added sugars, you need to read the ingredients list and remember the first item is the most down to the last one being the least.
• All of the following ingredients, commonly listed in food products, are aliases for sugar:

1. dextrose
2. fructose
3. honey
4. invert sugar
5. raw sugar
6. malt syrup
7. rice syrup
8. sucrose
9. xylose
10. molasses
11. corn sweetener
12. fruit juice concentrate
13. high fructose corn syrup
14. brown sugar
15. corn syrup
16. glucose
17. lactose
18. maltose
19. evaporated cane juice
20. agave nectar
21. cane crystals
22. cane sugar
23. crystal-line fructose
24. barley malt
25. beet sugar
26. caramel

I listed all those names by number to get your attention to just have many times food manufacturers sneak sugar into the products you buy and feed to your family.

If you only make one major change in your kitchen this year, make this one for all your family's sake.

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