Halloween is the time of year we go out collecting sugar-laden goodies. And the more, the merrier.
However, these days the problem is that sugar is everywhere. It’s naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables. It’s also added to just about every processed food there is. Why?
Because when they make “food items” fat- free, they load it with sugar for taste. Sometimes it is not only a personal choice, it is also a systemic one, perpetuated by the "food" industry.
And this “added sugar” is a factor in many chronic and inflammatory diseases that are impacting us every day. Too much sugar is associated with weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and cavities.
So just how much sugar is “too much”?
Before we talk about the “official” numbers you need to know the difference between “added” sugar and “naturally occurring” sugar.
Like I said, fruit and other healthy whole foods contain sugar. They also contain water, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicals. They are good for you! Eating fruits and vegetables is a well-proven way to reduce your risks of many chronic diseases.
“Added sugars,” on the other hand, are problematic. In 2013, the American Heart Association calculated that about 25,000 deaths per year were due to sweetened beverages. In fact, take a look at this and you decide for yourself about added sugars. “Added sugars” are also in baked goods, candies, soups, sauces and other processed foods. You can find sugar on the ingredient list as many names, often ending in “-ose.” These include glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc.
"Total sugars" = "Naturally occurring sugars" + "Added sugars."
In the USA, nutrition labels on food do differentiate between naturally occurring and added sugars, and it is suggested not to exceed 50 g/day. Unfortunately, this is still more than the American Heart Association’s recommended maximum of 24 g/day added sugar for women, and 36 g/day added sugar for men.
What is a better daily sugar goal?
I am going to go out on a limb and say this. If it has a label on it, don’t eat it. That’s right,
ditch as many processed foods as possible, regardless of their sugar content. There are a ton of studies that show that processed foods are bad for your health. Period. I wouldn’t recommend eating your “daily value” of sugar from sweetened processed foods. I don’t recommend even 50 g of "added" sugar per day. Get your sugar from whole, unprocessed fruits first.
Tips to reduce your sugar intake
● Reduce (or eliminate) sugar-sweetened beverages; this includes soda, sweetened coffee/tea, sports drinks, etc. Instead, have fruit-infused water. Or try drinking your coffee/tea "black" or with a touch of cinnamon or vanilla instead.
● Reduce (or eliminate) your desserts and baked goods and bake your own instead. You can easily reduce the sugar in a recipe by half. Or try my delicious (no added sugar) dessert recipe below.
● Instead of a granola bar (or other sugary snack), try fruit, a handful of nuts, or veggies with hummus. These are easy grab-and-go snacks if you prepare them in a “to-go” container the night before.
Recipe: Frosty
Serves 1
¾ cup almond milk (unsweetened)
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
½ banana, frozen
Ice cubes
Instructions
Add everything into a blender
Pulse until thick and ice is blended.
If you are interested in trying a sugar-free diet join me for GRIT, starting on Monday, November 8, for only $97. (usually $197.) This 3 week challenge includes one week of eating quite differently than you have before - no sugar, no caffeine, no gluten, no processed food. I guarantee it will open your eyes to how good you can feel. Sign up here.