Eating For Health

Sugar‑sweetened beverages (SSBs) — including soda, sweet tea, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee beverages — remain the #1 source of added sugars in the American diet. According to the CDC , sugary drinks contribute 35% of all added sugars consumed in the U.S. diet. Many kids and adults drink one or more sugared beverages daily. Did you know that one 12-ounce can of soda has more than 10 teaspoons of added sugar or 42 grams of added sugar?   In the South, sweet tea is especially common — and a large bottle can easily add 200 calories of added sugar in a single sitting. These calories provide no vitamins, minerals, or fiber , and they displace nutrient‑rich options like milk, water, or 100% juice. 🚨 Why Cut Back on Sugary Drinks? 1. Added sugars exceed recommended limits The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting added sugars to <10% of total calories starting at age 2 , and zero added sugars for children under age 2 . Suga...

Who doesn’t love sweets? 🍪🍫 From candy and cookies to cake, donuts, and chocolate — sugary treats are everywhere. But America’s sweet tooth may be doing more harm than good. According to the American Heart Association in How Much Sugar is Too Much? , adults in the U.S. consume about 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day — more than 2–3 times the recommended intake 😲 . 📊 Major Sources of Added Sugar in the American Diet Understanding where added sugar hides in your diet is the first step toward cutting back. Here's a breakdown: 🥤 Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (24%) Soft Drinks: 16% Fruit Drinks: 5% Sports/Energy Drinks: 2% 🍰 Desserts and Sweet Snacks (19%) Cookies and Brownies: 6% Ice Cream and Frozen Dairy Desserts: 5% Cakes and Pies: 4% Doughnuts, Sweet Rolls, and Pastries: 3% Other: 1% 🍬 Other Sources Coffee/Tea Additions: 11% Candy: 9% Sandwiches: 7% Breakfast Cereals and Bars: 7% Miscellaneous: 19% 📏 Recommended Daily ...

Who doesn’t love sugary snacks or dessert?   But then one bite leads to craving even more sugary snacks and desserts.   A candy bar can help you curb your hunger and give you an energy boost but only for the short-term. Then as your blood sugar drops you can feel hungry again.   My husband has been working on cutting back on sweets.   Not an easy task.   Sugar, sugar everywhere.   Why it can be hard to cut back on sugar. Everyone knows there is sugar in candy and most desserts.   But added sugar has crept into many foods including bread, cereal, fruit drinks, sauces like spaghetti sauce, and yogurt.   Americans eat a lot of sugar averaging 17 teaspoons of sugar a day when the recommended amount is about “6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 for men”.   (See: Is hidden sugar sneaking into your diet? )    What are some ways you can curb your cravings for sugar? Eat meals with carbs but also protein and some healthy fats.  ...

Who doesn’t love some sweets, some desserts?   Everyone knows candy, cookies, pies, cakes, and other desserts have sugar.    But you may not be aware of the amount of added sugar in everyday foods.   What are some food sources of hidden sugar that may surprise you?   What is the difference between the natural sugar in foods and added sugar?   It is the added sugar in foods that can lead to a number of health problems including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, dental disease and even liver disease.      What foods have natural sugar? When health professionals recommend cutting back on “sugar”, they usually aren’t talking about the natural sugar in foods.   Did you know cow’s milk has some natural sugar called “lactose”?   It is not very sweet so milk doesn’t taste very sweet unless it is chocolate milk and sugar has been added.   Fruit contains a natural sugar called “fructose”.   So why don’t you get a sugar high whe...