Sugar is in almost everything that we eat today and although there are healthy foods that naturally contain sugar such as fruits and vegetables, the majority of sugar consumed today is from processed food. Candy bars, cakes, ice cream, soda, bread, energy drinks, and the like are a long list of food items that millions consume daily. These food items however contain the bad type of sugar – added sugar.
Consuming too much sugar is bad for the body and it contributes to illnesses and medical conditions such as obesity, cancer and tooth decay. Health experts report that the maximum amount of sugar a person is to consume daily is 6 to 9 teaspoons for the men and women respectively. But in spite of this, the average American consumes almost 17 teaspoons daily.
Granted, it might be nearly impossible to eliminate sugar from your diet, but there are ways you can still cut it out.
Check for Sugar Content in Canned Products
When shopping for food it’s wise to check the ingredient label to know what you are buying. From the ingredient list you can then tell if there is added sugar or not in the product that you are about to buy. This is especially important when shopping for canned food. While it is true that canned food can be a cheap and affordable alternative, you must note that it is extremely high in added sugars.
On the ingredient label you can look out for words such as “sugar”, “maltose”, and “cane syrup” to know if there is added sugar. If you really cannot do without buying canned fruits and vegetables, then make sure to wash them thoroughly so that you can remove some of the added sugar.
Drop Soda, Drink Water
Soda contains a lot of added sugar which causes a lot of harm to your body. The importance of water cannot be overemphasized. Drinking water does a lot of good for the body and it is definitely a healthier alternative to soda.
Do Not Shop on An Empty Stomach
Shopping on an empty stomach or when you are hungry is bad for both your body and bank account. When you shop hungry, you end up buying food items that you do not need and are probably less healthy anyways. You might be tempted to buy a candy bar or two when you shop.
Recent studies have shown that those who shop just after lunch make better choices than those that shop on an empty stomach. So it is important that you eat before hitting the store.
Know Your Bread
Bread is one of the most commonly consumed baked product in the world and chances are that you have eaten bread already this week. Most bread is made with added sugar, so it is important that you know your bread. This will help you to know which one to buy so you don’t cause unnecessary harm to you health.
Revise Your Breakfast Food
Breakfast food mostly consist of cereal. Cereal is great because it contain a lot of fiber and some of them are mixed with fruits. But Cereal also contain a high amount of added sugar.
Granola for example, which is marketed as “healthy” because of the fruit and nuts, actually contains more sugar than normal cereal. So instead of cereal and granola, it would be wise to invest in healthier breakfast alternatives like oatmeal and eggs
Do Not Keep Sugar at Home
What good does it do when you are trying to fight eating sugar but your refrigerator and pantries are stocked with ice cream and baked goods?
Yes! Get rid of all the sugar in your home. It makes cutting it out easier.
Now if you have any questions about this post, just let me know in the comments down below I’d love to help!
