The Sugar Situation

            These days it doesn’t matter if you are watching television, shopping at the grocery store, or eating at a restaurant, you are going to be exposed to sugar.  Increased sugar consumption can lead to obesity, therefore, increasing the likelihood of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and asthma.  More than one-third of American children and adolescents are obese.  According to a report by the CDC, 16.3 percent of boys’ caloric intake and 15.5 percent of girls’ caloric intake is from sugar.  And of these percentages, foods provided 59 percent of added-sugar calories while beverages provided 41 percent.  The school systems often get the blame, but it was found that most added sugar calories came at home. 

A few tips to help change the amount of sugar intake is to replace snacks of cookies and chips with fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, replacing sports drinks and soft drinks with water will be much better.  Sports drinks are often used to replenish electrolytes.  Compare a medium banana, which has 450mg of potassium, to a popular sports drink that provides 30mg per 8-ounce serving.  Be sensible about sugar.  Think natural instead of processed.