How much added sugar

Naturally occurring sugars such as those in fruit or milk are not added sugars. Added sugars have many different names. Examples of added sugars include brown sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit nectars, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose. Added sugars contribute calories to your diet, but no essential nutrients.

Eating and drinking too many added sugars makes it difficult to achieve a healthy eating pattern without taking in too many calories. Too much sugar in your diet can lead to health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. For example, in a 2, daily calorie diet no more than calories should come from added sugars. Soft drinks are a prime source of extra calories that can contribute to weight gain and provide no nutritional benefits.

Studies indicate that liquid carbohydrates such as sugar-sweetened beverages are less filling than the solid forms 28 — causing people to continue to feel hungry after drinking them despite their high caloric value.

They are coming under scrutiny for their contributions to the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Unfortunately, many common breakfast foods such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, cereal bars, instant oatmeal with added flavoring, and pastries can contain high amounts of added sugars.

Some ingredient lists mask the amount of sugar in a product. By using this tactic, sugars are represented separately in smaller amounts, which makes it more difficult for consumers to determine how much overall sugar is in a product.

Industry-sponsored labeling programs can also be confusing. One such program, called Smart Choices, drew scrutiny from the U. Spotting added sugar on food labels can require some detective work. Historically, food and beverage manufacturers in the U. Below are some other names for sugar that you may see on food labels:.

The Ingredient with Many Different Names To figure out if a packaged food contains added sugars, and how much, check the Nutrition Facts panel. Last Reviewed: Nov 2, First Name required First Name Required. Last Name required Last Name Required. Email required Email Required. Zip Code required Zip Code Required. I agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Kroger Health.

Too much sugar is too much, no matter the source. It all comes down to how fast the sugars get absorbed. For example, your body spends more time digesting an apple because of the fiber content, so the natural sugar absorbs more slowly.

On the flip side, the added sugar in soda arrives all at once in your system like a sugar bomb. All that extra sugar gets converted to calories much more quickly. Not so good for your system! The good news is that the added-sugar message is breaking through, and many American adults crave a change. In fact, research suggests that 77 percent of Americans are striving for less sugar in their diets.

And 7 in 10 consumers are willing to give up a favorite sugary product in favor of finding a healthier alternative.