How Does Added Sugar Affect My Health?
Added sugars provide no nutrition, and are therefore referred to as “empty calories”.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid products that have a lot of added sugar.
What food items contain added sugars?
Major sources of added sugars are: regular soft drinks, all kinds of desserts like candy, cakes, cookies, pies, and fruit drinks. Also milk products like ice cream, sweetened yogurt, as well as sweetened milk grain products like cinnamon toast, honey-nut waffles and snack bars.
How can I spot added sugars in a food item?
You can easily spot added sugars as you peruse the ingredient list. Words that mean “added sugar” include the following:
- Added sugars ( brown, cane, confectioner’s, date)
- Agave nectar
- Dextrose
- Fructose
- Honey
- Maltose
- Molasses
- Polydextrose
- Sucrose
- Syrup
How much added sugar can I consume per day?
Added sugars should not make up more than 5% of the energy (calories) you get from food and drink each day.
Adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day, (roughly equivalent to 7 teaspoons of sugar or sugar cubes).
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