...makes our bellies get round!
On August 24, 2009, the American Heart Association made an announcement that was none too surprising to most dieticians and nutritionists: Americans consume too much sugar and it's affecting our health. The AHA stated that a high intake of added sugars (those not occuring naturally such as in fruit) is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, inflammation, heart disease, and stroke, to name a few. Currently, the average American consumes 22.2 teaspoons of added sugar per day, or the equivalent of 355 of their daily calories.
So what's the AHA recommending we limit sugar intake to? Well, of course it depends on your size and level of activity, but here's the breakdown:
Men ~ 150 calories = 37.5 grams = 9 teaspoons per day
Women ~ 100 calories = 25 grams = 6 teaspoons per day
Quite a bit less than most of us are consuming!! Remember: sugar has no nutritional value. It only adds calories to your diet.
And the number one source in America for all this sugar? You guessed it ~ soda pop. One 12 oz. can contains approximately 130 calories and 8 teaspoons of sugar. So with your one coke, ladies, you're already over your daily limit. Many of you are now saying, "But I drink diet." Well, then you're well over your daily limit for added poison, but that's for another post.
This is so true! I just can't cut out the sugar! but I'm giving it a try 'cause I'm sick of feeling so bloated all the time!!!!
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