Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Just 10 spoonfuls of sugar

By JANET K. KEELER
Published May 9, 2007

Here's sobering information:

A 20-ounce Pepsi has nearly triple the amount of sugar the government says an adult should ingest in one day. The feds want us to restrict our sugar intake to 10 teaspoons a day. A fully charged Pepsi contains 28.

What's that? You've already downed two? Hello, trouble.

Sugared-up food is in the hot seat these days as incidences of diabetes rise with the national waistline keeping pace.

At 4 calories per gram (about 16 calories per teaspoon), sugar, in moderation, is not so bad. The problem is the large amounts people consume - 158 pounds per person per year, the American Dietetic Association estimates.

Most of us don't realize how much sugar is in popular foods. Sugary drinks are a big culprit, especially because they often have little nutritional value.

Here's some information to help tame your sweet tooth.

 
Reading labels:

Before you make a food purchase, understand what some of the health claims mean:

• Sugar-free: Less than 0.5 gram of sugar per serving, but does not mean carbohydrate-free. If there is a big difference in carbohydrate content between sugar-free and standard variety, buy the sugar-free product.
• Reduced sugar: At least 25 percent less sugar per serving than the regular version.
• No sugar added: Foods that do not have any form of sugar added during processing or packaging and do not contain high-sugar ingredients. They may still contain a lot of carbohydrates, so check the label.
• Fat-free foods: Can be higher in carbohydrates (which your body turns into sugar) and contain almost the same calories as the foods they replace. Fat-free foods are not necessarily a better choice than the standard product, so read your labels carefully.

[Last modified May 8, 2007, 20:25:32]