The Not-So-Sweet Side of Sugar
We all know that sugar isn’t good for our health, waistline or teeth. But what we don't know about it—including where it’s coming from—can be even more important. Additionally, many contain genetically modified sugars (GMO) and are often unlabelled as such, yielding further obscurity.
Consuming sugary drinks such as sodas and fruit drinks were once thought to be the main source of sugar in our diet, but the latest from the U.S. CDC shows that Americans are getting their sugar mainly from their food, not drinks.
Without knowing this fact, many people may be unwittingly be consuming a lot more sugar than they think and are scratching their heads as to why they can’t lose those last few pounds.
Here’s how sugar sneaks into your diet and how to prevent it.
Where’s the sugar?
A whopping 70 percent of added sugars in the American diet comes from processed foods such as:
- Breads
- Jellies and Jams
- Cakes
- Ice Cream
Where else is there sugar?
Some Less obvious sources of sugar in popular foods include:
- Tomato Sauces
- Salad Dressings
- Condiments
- Cereals
- Multigrain Crackers
What’s the Health Risk?
Excess sugar can not only lead to weight gain, but you also have other health concerns to worry about. People who drink 1 to 2 cans of soda a day can increase their risk for Type 2 diabetes by 26%. Additionally, daily sugary drinks can also increase your risk of heart attack, death from heart attack and heart disease.
—Oksana Aron,M.D.
Bariatric Physician
WeightLossNYC.com
Healthy Tip
When checking the ingredients list on food packaging, make sure that sugar or its other names (such as high-fructose corn syrup HFCS or corn syrup, etc.) isn’t one of the first few ingredients. That way you’ll know that the food isn’t mostly sugar.
Medical Weight Loss Consultation
Lose the weight to reveal a healthier body. Stay motivated and keep the weight off with a healthy weight loss plan. Call 718-491-5525 to schedule your consultation with Oksana Aron, M.D., Bariatric Physician at WeightLossNYC™.
* This article was originally published here