What’s the Deal with Added Sugars?
Added sugars are sugars or syrups that are added to food or beverages when they are processed or prepared. They are different from natural sugars which, as their name implies, are found naturally in foods like fruit (fructose) and dairy products (lactose). Sports drinks, energy drinks, sodas, fruit drinks (like fruit punch), sauces and condiments (like ketchup), sugary cereals and grains, and desserts are some of the most common items with added sugars. Added sugars may make food taste better but eating too much can also lead to weight gain as well as increase your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Sugar contains calories, but no nutrients. Therefore, it is important to watch how much sugar we eat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than... Men: 9 tsp (36 grams or 150 calories) each day Women: 6 tsp (25 grams or 100 calories) each day Just one 12 oz can of soda has about 9 tsp (38...