Americans Should Limit Added Sugar Intake to Improve Health

According to a recent story published on CNN.com, Americans should work hard to limit the amount of added sugar they consume each day. Added sugar is defined as any type of sugar substance that is not found naturally in food, but that is added in order to enhance flavors or tastes. These added sugars include corn syrup, dextrose, glucose, maltose, syrup, and honey, according to the article.

Added sugar consumption can have far-reaching negative consequences on overall health; it may lead to Diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. In order to help Americans eat healthier and limit the amount of added sugar they consume, the American Heart Association has released its first-ever guidelines pertaining to added sugar. These guidelines have been widely circulated around the Web and have come under fire from the sugar industry.

The Sugar Association calls the AHA's focus on high-sugar foods "misplaced" and suggests that this focus "may have unforeseen and detrimental consequences," according to WebMD. However, many scientists and researchers argue that sugar can be a leading cause in the development of obesity, Diabetes, and other detrimental health conditions.

AHA Guidelines

The AHA added sugar guidelines suggest that women consume no more than 100 calories from sugar each day and that men consume no more than 150 calories from sugar. One 12-ounce can of soda has about 8 teaspoons of sugar in it. That translates to about 130 calories from sugar alone. (source: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090824/heart-group-limit-added-sugars-diet?src=RSS_PUBLIC) Of course, everyone's sugar intake will depend on their age, weight, gender, and activity level, so these amounts may vary from person to person.

According to the AHA panelists, "Deleterious health effects may occur when sugars are consumed in large amounts" (source: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090824/heart-group-limit-added-sugars-diet?src=RSS_PUBLIC). These deleterious health effects vary, but include added weight, metabolic problems, and a lack of an adequate amount of nutrient consumption, which tend to be missing from in sugary foods.

Sugar-free Alternatives

While consuming healthy foods is always the most effective way to stay trim, healthy, and to maintain a diet that is filled with nutrients, many people will admit that they have cravings for high-sugar foods. The good news is that there are viable alternatives to high sugar foods that will help people to get a sweet fix without consuming any sugar at all. These sugar-free options are available in cakes, cookies, candies, sodas, and more so that consumers can stay healthy while feeling like they aren't depriving themselves of sugary foods. Look around sugar-free versions of your favorite sugary foods.

Sources:

http://shop.imtypefree.com/Sugar-free-Desserts-and-Sugar-free-Candy-s/82.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/25/aha.sugar.added/index.html

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090824/heart-group-limit-added-sugars-diet?src=RSS_PUBLIC