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10 Foods And Drinks That Are High In Sugar

Sugar is delicious. It helps make things that are otherwise unpalatable edible and makes things that taste good great. Unfortunately, it is also very unhealthy. Eating too much sugar can make you gain weight, cause dental problems and increase your risk of heart disease, developing cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

It is not easy to live with any of the above-mentioned diseases. In spite of the fact that people who have severe dental problems can take tooth replacement, root canal, or teeth restoration treatments, people who have chronic health problems might have trouble getting rid of them. Heart disease, for instance, can cause a person to feel dizzy and short of breath, and these problems might persist throughout their lives. Also, those with cancer experience fatigue, anemia, mouth problems, nausea/weight changes. Likewise, an individual with type 2 diabetes may develop symptoms of cataracts (which might require cataract treatment in the future) and frequent urination among other troubles. So, to avoid all these, it would be better to stay away from Sugar in the first place.

Keep in mind that though it is dangerous for people of all age groups, it can be more problematic for people of old age. And, it could be tricky to decide what they can eat and what not. That’s where, aged care professionals (like those available at Care For Family) can be of help who are trained well in taking proper care of seniors, from diet and nutrition to hygiene and other needs. While aged people are safe in the hands of such experts, everyone should be mindful of their sugar intake.

It can sound very scary hearing all that, especially if you’re tucking into something a little sugary as a snack. In moderation, sugar is fine. Don’t be scared to have a chocolate bar every now and then! Just know that keeping your intake down is better. On the other, excessive condition of sugary foods could lead to problems like tooth decay or swollen gums. If you are experiencing such issues, you may need to seek the assistance of a dentist (similar to dentists Herndon) who can work on your dental problems and suggest some steps for maintaining good oral health and limiting sugar intake.

Here, we’ve listed 10 of the foods and drinks you may be shocked to know are so loaded with the white stuff.

  • Low Fat Yogurt

Yogurt can be really good for us when it’s full fat. However, low-fat options add sugar to them to enhance the taste, and this is a double-edged sword. It would be better to have Greek or full-fat options than the lower ones – one low-fat yogurt can contain over 45g of sugar. That’s more than you’re meant to eat in a day!

  • Ketchup

Who doesn’t love a little ketchup with their meal? Well, if you’re one of those who needs it with everything, perhaps this will give you pause – it’s incredibly sugary. One tablespoon has a teaspoon of the stuff in it.

  • Fruit Juice

This is one that tends to shock people. Fruit juice is healthy! But, too much of it isn’t. These juices can have as much sugar as a Coke, and as they’re usually strained of the pulp and the like it doesn’t have the fibre content of the fruit itself.

  • Spaghetti Sauce

Another one that can surprise people, but often sugar is added to sweeten up out of season tomatoes and the like. Adding that to the natural sweetness from tomatoes, and it can become a sugar bomb fairly quickly.

  • Sports Drinks

This isn’t surprising for those who know these drinks are designed to help athletes have quick bursts of energy, but for those who think it’s a drink for sporty people because it’s healthy may want to think twice. A standard bottle contains nearly 38g of sugar, as well as 198 calories.

  • Granola

The darling of the healthy breakfast, granola in moderation is fine. However, people often make this sweeter than it needs to be, and as it is drenched with honey or other sweeteners the calorie and sugar content only explodes along the way. You can control this by making your own.

  • Flavored Coffee

A cup of coffee in the morning is a good way to start the day, but perhaps it is isn’t so good if you love a caramel frapp or the like. In fact, common chain coffees of this sort can have 45g of sugar to start, and often far exceed this.

  • Protein Bars

This seems to be a similar situation to the sports drinks one for many. Protein is healthy, and these bars make people feel full. However, they are also designed to give the eater energy, and thus often have the same amount of sugar as a candy bar.

  • Premade Soups

Vegetables have naturally occurring sugars, and in limits this is fine. However, commercially available soups often add sugar (under names like sucrose, barley malt, dextrose, maltose and high fructose corn syrup) to soups to make them taste better.

  • Premade Smoothies

Similar to fruit juices, people assume these are healthy. Making your own can be, as you control what goes in, but premade smoothies often come sweetened with other products, and thus aren’t as good for you as you may think.

With all this in mind, you’d be better off checking the labels a little more closely on your next shop. Remember: You’re in control of how much sugar you have, so don’t feel bad if you have a little more some days. Just keep things in check and all should be alright.

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