Those who know me know that I have become OBSESSED with added sugar. It is EVERYWHERE and in EVERYTHING. Before I begin, it is important to reiterate that I am not a nutritionist. I read a ton about nutrition and am able to discuss it to an extent. If you ever have questions/comments about something I have written or said, PLEASE ask me.
Too much sugar has been linked to diabetes, weight gain and even cancer.
Yes, we know that sugar is in cake, cookies and candy. It is in ice cream, pie and doughnuts. What many do not realize is that it is in other foods that you may not think have OR need sugar. For example it is in ketchup, canned tomatoes, salad dressings, bread and barbecue sauces. It is in crackers, yogurt, canned soups and even BACON.
You may think, “Okay…so maybe during the day I will have a couple of grams in some ketchup and some more from a salad dressing…that’s not too much.” What you are not realizing is that when you have 2 tablespoons of ketchup – that’s 8 grams of sugar. 2 tablespoons of a plain vinaigrette salad dressing is another 3 grams. That’s 11 grams and you haven’t had any “sweets” yet today. The recommended amount of added sugar you – as a woman – should have in a day is 25 grams. You are essentially halfway there.
Because this is one of my favorite topics, I am sure to be writing on it again…My point TODAY is to continue to remind you to READ YOUR LABELS.
Now, here is where it gets tricky. Sure, we know sugar is called “sugar”. Many of us know it by the name “sucrose” or “high fructose corn syrup”. But did you know there are about 60 other names for sugar?
Lastly, please do not assume because a food item in a store says “100% natural” or “organic” that it does not have added sugar. Sugar, agave syrup, rice syrup and cane juice, for example, are all NATURAL and can also be ORGANIC, but they are ALL forms of added sugar.
Taking personal responsibility for what we put in our own bodies is a big step in bettering our own health.
Check out the labels in your pantry today. What do you see?
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