For years, researchers have found a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, gout and weight gain in people who consume more sugar-sweetened beverages. Now new studies suggest that our out-of-control sweet tooth is connected to our out-of-control belly fat. For some time now we have been told that the “apple” shape – those who carry their weight around the waist – are more prone to the above mentioned diseases and it looks as though sugar is the culprit.
When you consider that a healthy amount of sugar should not exceed 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men, when you realise that the average person in the developed countries now consumes more like 25 teaspoons daily, it is easy to see why our waistlines have increased and why there has been a significant rise in these first world health issues. The following lists are simply an example of how easy it is to consume more than the daily recommended amount of sugar and I think you will be shocked.
Figures vary depending on sources, but they give a very good indication of just how high some of our favourite foods are. These examples are taken from http://www.dentalhealth.org and http://uhs.berkeley.edu but you can work out how many teaspoons of sugar there are in your food by looking at the label. Under carbohydrate, the amount of sugar will be listed per portion or per 100 grams: 4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon which gives a much better idea of just how much you are eating. Amounts below are also given in teaspoons.
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Sodas
- Sports drinks ½ litre – 8
- Tonic water per serving – 8
- Cola per can – 7
- Energy Drinks per can – 7.5
Cereals (perserving of around 30 grams)
- Frosted – 3
- Cocoa Krispies – 3
- Raisin Bran – 2.5
- Honey Smacks – 5
- Muesli – 2
- Special K – 1
- Weetabix – 0.5
- Shredded Wheat – 0
Chocolate Bars
- 100g Bag boiled sweets – 11.5
- 58g Mars Bar – 10
- 58g Milky Way – 8.5
- Snickers – 7
- 50g Milk Chocolate – 6
- 45g Starburst – 5.5
- 50g Dark Chocolate – 3.5
- Twix – 2.75
Biscuits & Cakes
- Chocolate Digestive – 1.2
- Plain Digestive – 0.7
- Gingernut – 0.8
- Jaffa Cake – 3.25
- Shortcake – 0.5
- Cinnabon Classic Roll – 15
- Dunkin Donut Chocolate Chip Muffin – 14
- Krispy Kreme Chocolate Glazed Doughnut – 6.5