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The Silent Killer in Our Foods and What It Could Mean for You

 

When was the last time you had a soft drink? Some people have managed to cut them out completely while others love their cola. It’s become customary for Americans to drink all kinds of sodas and sweetened drinks. Naturally, this is happening all over the world, but Americans are suffering from problems like obesity at rates unseen in many other countries and it’s left many to question why. What else is really happening here?

 

[National Posture Institute] The Silent Killer in Our Foods and What It Could Mean for You

 

The next time you grab your soda or just about anything to eat, check the food label if you can. Skip the fat and calorie section just for a moment and look at the carbohydrate section. Now, look at the grams of sugar on it. Scroll back up to the serving size and take note of the serving size and the servings per container. You may want to show this to your clients also, because this is where it gets really interesting. If you’re unsure or haven’t heard this, the amount of servings per container is the amount of times you’ll be getting the sugar listed.

 

So, if you’re having your favorite snack and the serving size is 1 cup, there are 2 servings per container and it also says 20 grams of sugar, if you consume the entire pack you’re actually getting 40 grams of sugar. That seems easy enough to understand, no sweat, right? What’s troubling is the amount of sugar, and the fact that sugar has been added to just about everything. From breads and cereals right down to tomato sauce and let’s not forget your favorite soda. Sugar has been added to just about everything we consume to make it taste better and it could be killing us slowly.

 

If we go back to the example, most people are concerned with the fat content and calories, some are glad when the protein is high, but so many of us are skipping the sugar section. There’s just too much added sugar in the foods we consume and it’s part of the reason why we’re experiencing health issues like obesity. Not only are we consuming too much, but it’s just difficult to avoid. Have you ever grabbed a snack and the serving size was small, but the calories and sugar content were high? How do they expect you to eat just a handful of that tasty treat? Naturally, you’ll eat several handfuls because it’s just so good.

 

This is how it gets problematic. The overconsumption of foods with added sugar and the fact that sugar is added to everything is slowly wreaking havoc on our systems. The Center for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) website mentions that Americans who consume too much added sugar could end up with weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

 

It’s also important to note that the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests controlling added sugar intake. Women should consume no more than 100 calories per day (6 teaspoons), while men should consume 150 calories (9 teaspoons). The numbers are small and with all the added sugars in food it’s really difficult to stay within them, but it’s possible.

 

One of the best ways to reduce added sugar intake is to reduce the major culprits. Read your labels often and make changes where necessary. Reduce portion sizes or replace the food with something else. Fruit is still very much an option for you so find the ones that work best for you and snack on those. Remember, the added sugar is the problem, not so much the sugar found in milk, fruits, and some vegetables, though some people have to monitor those also.

 

Another tactic is to reduce or cut out processed foods from your diet. Where you may be tempted to add something to jazz up your meal, an herb or spice might do the trick instead. Don’t be surprised if some of the spices in containers also have sugar in them. It’s that serious. The added sugars go by all kinds of names these days and the ingredients list is full of them.

 

This is going to be difficult, but it’s worth it. Your health is what keeps your life boat afloat so invest time in knowing what’s going into your body and how often. I’d also like to suggest you check out our friends at Educational Fitness Solutions. They offer online college certificates in a number of nutrition fields, from sports nutrition to school nutrition. You can start your journey by checking out their Functional Nutrition program below.

 

Click here to access it >>

 

 
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