It’s sweet, it glistens and is a part of every child’s wish list. Sounds harmless, but actually sugar can have detrimental effects on your health when consumed in excess. You may not even know that you’re eating it in a variety of products. Attempt to cut back on your sugar intake to lower your risk for tooth decay, suppressed immune system, increased anxiety and heart rate as well as type-2 diabetes. These tips and tricks can put you on the sweeter path to health.

Beware of Soft Drinks

Sodas are full of chemicals, artificial flavorings, sodium, and large quantities of sugar. A regular 16 once soda has about 12.5 teaspoons of sugar. Can you imagine putting 12.5 teaspoons of sugar in a glass of homemade iced tea? And don’t think you’re off the hook if your preference is diet soda. Diet drinks are full of artificial sweeteners like saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose that have been reported to increase your cravings for sugar and carbohydrates.

Fruit Juice: Friend or Foe?

Juice is not always the best substitute for soda. Although you can purchase 100 percent juice that is more natural than soda, it’s still packed with a lot of sugar that can pack on the pounds. Some fruit juices are also artificially flavored and have more chemicals than actual juice. Drink in moderation.

The Unusual Suspects

Many condiments are full of high fructose corn syrup; ketchup, salad dressing, BBQ sauce, pickled relish, and spaghetti sauce are huge culprits. Be sure to go easy on the sauce the next time you’re at your favorite restaurant or at home adding flavor to your favorite dishes.

Replace Sugar with Spice

Good news!  Many spices can add great flavor to your food and curb the need for a sugary sweet taste. Skip the extra teaspoon of sugar and choose a spice like cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla for an extra kick of flavor.

Save Dessert for Special Occasions

Don’t eat dessert with every meal or every day. Treat yourself to dessert on special occasions. If you’re craving a sweet, try to grab a piece of fruit in between your indulgent days. The next time you eat a piece of chocolate cake you’ll appreciate it much more.

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One Comment

  1. Great advice! One day I read the label on a bottle of salad dressing and I was mortified to see how many sweeteners were in it.

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