5 Everyday Foods with Hidden Sugar

Eating too much sugar can have devastating health consequences. Excessive sugar intake can cause unwanted weight gain, for example, and it can lead to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other serious health conditions.

The American Heart Association suggests that women limit their sugar intake to 100 calories and that men limit their sugar intake to 150 calories daily, which works out to about or about 6 teaspoons per day for women and nine teaspoons per day for men.

Nutritionists discuss sugar in terms of grams. One teaspoon of sugar contains four grams. This works out to 24 grams per day for women and 36 grams of sugar daily for men.

If you are like many people, you are trying to reduce the amount of sugar you consume. The first step is to estimate how much sugar you actually consume every day. It is easy to underestimate sugar consumption, though, as sugar often hides in unexpected places — even in foods you would not consider sweet.

Look for Sugar Hiding in these Five Foods

1. Low-fat yogurt

   Yogurt can be a highly nutritious food, but it can be high in sugar. This is especially true in low-fat yogurt.

   You might be surprised to learn that foods marked “light” or “low-fat” often have higher sugar content than do the regular versions, as a scoop or two of sugar helps make up for the bland flavor of the low-fat food. Check the sugar content on the yogurt label – you may be better off with full-fat, natural, or Greek yogurt.

2. Condiments

   BBQ sauce, ketchup, and other condiments can contain large amounts of sugar. In fact, two tablespoons of BBQ sauce can contain 14 grams of sugar – that’s three tablespoons of sugar in a two-tablespoon serving of sauce. While ketchup contains less sugar – only about a teaspoon of sugar in every teaspoon of ketchup – it still adds unnecessary sugar to your diet.

3. Spaghetti sauce

   Tomatoes make spaghetti sauce naturally sweet, but many manufacturers add sugar to make their sauce tastier.

4. Flavored coffee

   Flavored coffee from a coffeehouse can contain a staggering amount of sugar – up to 25 teaspoons.

5. Granola

   Granola is another health food that can contain nuts, honey, and other sweeteners. In fact, a 100-calorie serving of granola can contain more than six teaspoons of sugar.

If you are concerned that sugar has caused health problems, consult with a health professional. Blood tests can help you doctor determine if you have diabetes, while heart screening tests can help evaluate any cardiovascular effects. Optimize your health and contact Virtual Imaging, Inc. today and schedule a scan for cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and colon cancer.