Tina Hallett's Short Article Samples

Unexpected Ways Sugar gets Into Our Diet

by Tina Hallett

Which has more sugar in it – a brownie or a glass of fruit drink? The answer will surprised you! It depends on how many grams of sugar are in the juice. The brownie has fifteen grams of sugar. Fruit juices contain between fifteen and forty-five grams of sugar.

According to The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program, by Kathleen Des Maisons, there are many other ways sugar sneaks into our diet. All processed foods contain sugar; these includes breads, pastas, and sauces. So-called fruit drinks are the worst offends: They contain up to forty-five grams of sugar! No wonder we are becoming a nation a diabetics! Crackers are another processed foods that can contain hidden sugars – which can add up if many crackers are eaten. Potato chips have the same problem. Sodas contain the same amount of sugar as fruit drinks, but most people already know sodas are high in sugar.

How then do we keep sugar out of our diet? First eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, like apples, and less processed foods like pasta. Bake your own breads and make your own salad dressings without sugar. Eat healthy snakes like nuts and dried apples. Eat whole grain breads and pastas. Buy a juicer and make you own fresh juice instead of buying sugar ladened fruit drinks, which are devoid of nutrients! Did you know if you blend vegetable juice with fruit juice you taste only the fruit? Children love it and it is healthy for everyone! Also use spices, like ginger, to make sugar-free treats that taste great!

Maintaining balance is the key. No one can eliminate all sugar from their diet. The key is to know when and how much sugar is getting in and where it is coming from. Read labels: check them for the grams of sugars and know that corn syrup, high fructose, and sucrose are names for sugar. Set a range of how much sugar to consume, not a specific amount of grams. Take into account your family history; for example, if there is a history of diabetes, limit the sugar even more!

Another sugar-limiting tip is to make healthy snakes easily accessible – especially more accessible than sweets and other high-sugar foods. Keep apples and the table and the cookie jar up in the cabinet. Take your own fresh juice to the game in a thermos instead of buying a soda. Bring your water bottle on the hike instead of a cooler full of beer.

Another important factor is upbringing. Teach your kids and use healthy eating habits. This makes the force-of-habit work for you instead of against you. Teach them sweets are for special occasions, like Christmas. Teach them fresh foods are every-day foods by eating them your self. Sugar is too common in our foods, so we have to be careful we do not consume far too much.

Remember to enjoy all that delicious juice fresh from your own kitchen and offer some to your friends and your family!