• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Clinics
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Health Security
  • Resources
    • Health Tips
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

The Bittersweet Truth about Added Sugar

    Home Health Tips The Bittersweet Truth about Added Sugar
    Next Previous
    The Bittersweet Truth about Added Sugar

    The Bittersweet Truth about Added Sugar

    By Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider | Comments are Closed | 28 April, 2021 0

    Sugar is naturally found in foods such as fruit, vegetables, dairy, and grain. Natural sugars found in whole foods help fuel your body by providing energy for your body’s cells. Whole foods also contain elements that are essential and that are good for your body including fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. Too much added sugar, on the other hand, can negatively impact your health and even contribute to a shortened lifespan.

    What is added sugar?

    Sugars that are added to the naturally occurring sugars already found in food are considered added sugars. So why add sugar? Manufacturers may add sugars to make foods taste better. Americans tend to go overboard with added sugars in processed foods including:

    • Soft drinks (almost half of added sugars in our diet comes from one source—sugary drinks)
    • Sweets (including candy, cookies, pudding, ice cream, popsicles, and cake)
    • Cereal
    • Breads
    • Granola and protein bars
    • Canned fruit
    • Flavored yogurt
    • Peanut butter, jams, and jellies
    • Snacks (like honey mustard pretzels, BBQ flavored potato chips, flavored nuts, etc.)
    • Condiments (including ketchup, pasta sauce, BBQ sauce, jarred salsa, salad dressing)

    Why is added sugar bad?

    Sugar can negatively impact your overall health causing a variety of issues and increasing your risk for many diseases/problems, including:

    • Weight gain, obesity
    • Elevated blood pressure
    • Heart disease
    • Elevated cholesterol, triglyceride levels
    • Diabetes
    • Kidney disease
    • Liver disease
    • Pancreatic cancer
    • Dental issues, cavities
    • Skin aging, wrinkles

    How much sugar should we be consuming?

    The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a 6 teaspoon per day limit for women and a 9 teaspoon per day limit for men. If you think that seems like a large allowance, keep in mind that the average 12-ounce can of soda contains 8 teaspoons of added sugar.

    How much added sugar are we consuming?

    On average, the American adult consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar in one day. That is about twice the AHA’s recommended limit for men and nearly three times the recommended limit for women.

    What can I do to limit my intake of added sugars?

    First, you will want to read nutrition labels! The amount of added sugar in a product is listed on the Nutrition Facts label under total sugars.  Remember to pay attention to total sugars in addition to added sugars If you have any other medical conditions in which you have to limit your total sugar intake.

    Reading ingredient lists can also help you spot added sugars, which can be called by many names, including high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, sucrose, cane sugar, molasses, honey, and fruit juice concentrate.

    It is also important to be mindful of the serving size. If you eat double the serving size, then you’ll need to double the amount of sugars for that food or drink listed on the Nutrition Facts label.

    Another idea to limit sugar intake: eat real food, and replace sugary foods for healthier alternatives. For example, flavor plain or sparkling water with fruit, mint, or cucumber instead of reaching for a soft drink. Try grilling or cooking fruit for dessert instead of eating a sweet confection. Make your own snacks and sauces so you can control the ingredients—including how much sugar goes into them. Instead of smothering your salad with store-bought dressing, try sprinkling it lightly with olive oil, vinegar, and herbs.

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    Harvard Health Publishing, “The sweet danger of sugar,” November 5, 2019.
    American Heart Association, “Added Sugars.”
    American Heart Association, “How Too Much Added Sugar Affects Your Health.”
    American Heart Association, “Tracking Down Added Sugars on Nutrition Labels.”
    Rachael Link, “All You Need to Know About the New Nutrition Facts Label,” Healthline, September 28, 2020.
    American Heart Association, “Life is Sweet with These Easy Sugar Swaps.”
    American Heart Association, “How much sugar is too much?”

    Authored by: Ashley Clay

    Share
    AHA, American Heart Association, cavities, diabetes, diet, eat real food, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, nutrition, pancreatic cancer, sugar

    Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    More posts by Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    Related Post

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health

      Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Mindfulness and meditation are two practices that anyone can use to improve their mood and outlook.

      Share

    • May is Mental Helath Awareness Month

      Mental Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Remember you’re not alone if you’re struggling to feel your best every day, and keep reading about how to prioritize your mental health.

      Share

    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace

      How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace

      By Sharon Moise, MD, Chief Medical Officer

      May is Mental Health Awareness month and it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past couple of years and how they’ve challenged you because they challenged all of us!

      Share

    • Yoga Do

      Yoga

      By Danielle Olipra

      Improve the health of your body as well as your mind with yoga.

      Share

    • Cold Sores

      Cold Sores

      By Danielle Olipra

      If you have a cold sore, keep your chin up and keep reading for tips!

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Health Tip Updates

    Recent Posts

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health
    • Mental Health
    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace
    • Yoga
    • Cold Sores
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Recent Health Tips

    • Mindfulness and Meditation for Mental HealthMindfulness and Meditation for Mental Health
      May 25, 2022
    • May is Mental Helath Awareness MonthMental Health
      May 18, 2022
    • How to Normalize Mental Health in the WorkplaceHow to Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace
      May 11, 2022

    Insights

    • Zero ToleranceZero Tolerance: A Failed Paradigm
      February 24, 2022
    • Work-from-Home Ergonomic Considerations for EmployersWork-from-Home Ergonomic Considerations for Employers
      November 9, 2021
    • EXECUTIVE PHYSICIAN CONSULTING SERVICESHealthier Business: Executive Physician Consulting Services
      September 8, 2021

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442

    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright©2022 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English | Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English | Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Clinics
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor