“Oh, I really shouldn’t.” “Okay, maybe just a little taste.”
Now who of us doesn’t like a little something sweet? Maybe you enjoy dessert after dinner or you like to reward yourself with a sweet-treat for a job well done.
Does this sound familiar?
No matter what the reason, Americans are consuming too much sugar these days and it’s contributing to many health problems like obesity, type II Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans are eating an average of 77 pounds of sugar per person per year!
But, we’re not the only ones to blame. The food industry is extremely clever at hiding sugar in the foods we buy. Sometimes they do this by using an alias and calling sugar something else in the ingredient list.
Here are some examples…
Evaporated Cane Juice
Corn Syrup
Maple Syrup
Brown Rice Syrup
Malt Syrup
Agave
Honey
and anything ending in -ose
like sucrose, dextrose or glucose
…but no matter what it’s called, too much of any of these is not good for you.
So, you ask, what can I do to avoid eating too much sugar?
1. Read the labels
Sweetners are often hidden in foods you wouldn’t think of like-
Cereal bars & protein bars
Yogurt (yes, even the ever popular Greek yogurt)
Salad dressings
Pasta sauces
2. Switch them out
Instead of having that can of soda, why not try club soda with a squeeze or lemon/lime/orange?
If you’re craving something sweet, why not try a piece of whole, fresh fruit instead of grabbing that candy bar. You’ll be amazed how fast it’ll fill you up and satisfy that sweet tooth.
3. If you feel like you absolutely must have that cookie or cake, try having just a few bites. Research has shown that all we really need is the 1st bite or 2 to satisfy our craving. Follow that up with a glass of water and you will have indulged, but also filled up (because of the water) without eating all those extra calories.
The “Sweet News”
After a short while of cutting out (or drastically cutting back) added sweeteners you’ll probably notice that you don’t want the sweet stuff anymore & some of what you used to love will now taste too sweet. Sounds crazy, but it happens!
You’ll also find you’re probably losing weight. Now how about rewarding yourself for a good job by buying a new pair of pants or a new shirt, but this time in a smaller size?! Feels good doesn’t it?
How about more energy to get through your day? Instead of having that “sugar high” followed by the “crash” that inevitably happens when you eat processed sugar, you’ll have smooth sailing throughout your day. Speaking of sailing, you just might find you have energy to exercise where you didn’t before. Exercising regularly will also help with that weight loss…get ready for another smaller size new outfit!!