Sugar Addiction and Losing Weight

If you are trying to lose weight, controlling your sugar intake can help.  Especially if you have a sugar addition (like me!), just trying to lower the amount of sugar you eat each day will lead you down the road to eating more healthyand having an easier time at losing weight.

The more sugar you eat, the more sugar your body wants.  As a nation, the US consumes way too much sugar, mostly from sweetened drinks and energy drinks.  Read the ingredients of your energy drink or soda next time you drink one.  You may be surprised at the amount of sugar in them.

A 12 ounce can of soda may contain as much as 8 teaspoons of sugar.  And beware, the 36 ounce soda you grab at a convenience store during lunch can have up to 27 teaspoons of sugar!

Not only do lots of foods contain white sugar, but read their ingredients.  Besides sugar, also avoid honey, molasses and high-fructose corn syrup.  There are dozens of sugars the food industry uses and they are pretty much all the same nutritionally.

Try to limit your  intake of sugar to just 6 teaspons (which is 2 tablespoons) a day or 25 to 30 grams.  The maximum recommended amount varies among experts but the general concensus is 32 to 40 grams for an adult  (if you are not a diabetic).  32 grams is 8 teaspons of sugar a day.

Studies show that the average American consumes an average of 20 to 30 teaspoons of sugar per day. That’s about one-half cup of sugar a day!

Granola bars and pudding cups have more sugar than you would guess.  Just a slice of chocolate cake can have 20 to 25 teaspoons of sugar.  Even products like soups, sauces and bread have sugar in them.

Here’s a small list of how much sugar is used in making the following foods.  Remember 32-40 grams a day is what is recommended, and if you are trying to lose weight 25 to 30 grams would be better:

Jello cups                        17 grams
Pudding cups                 19 grams
Apple juice                     26 grams in an 8 oz. glass
Chocolate Cherrios        9 grams in 3/4 cup
Spaghetti Sauce               9 grams in 1/2 cup
Soup at Hand Classic Tomato                 15 grams in one container
Cocktail Sauce                                                 9 grams in 1/4 cup

Warm Delights – Hot Fudge Brownie     41 grams in 1 Bowl (not mini)

I don’t know if this is normal but it seems every red food I looked at had lots of sugar added.  Maybe tomatoes and sugar go together.

Try to stick to fruits and dried fruits for your sugar.  And drink water or a sugar-free drink with them. 

Have fruits and vegetables on hand to replace the sugar urge.  Sugar-free candies and foods can help but watch out, because just cause it is sugar-free, doesn’t mean it isn’t loaded with calories.

If you absolutely have to have chocolate, try a small piece like a Hershey’s kiss, rather than a whole candy bar.  Try keeping chocolate and other sugary items out of your house.  If you don’t buy them, you can’t eat them.

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