‘Scary’ Facts About Sugar

Scary Facts About Sugar

Halloween is on the horizon and with it comes loads of candy. With the consumption of sugar increasing faster than the world’s population and a 23% increase in sugar consumption in the last decade, refined sugar has become a part of daily life for Americans. With this realization comes many questions. Is it safe? How does it affect us? How much do we really consume? Here are some truly ‘scary’ facts about sugar…

Scary Facts About Sugar

Before you or your child indulges in that big pile of Halloween candy, you might reconsider after these frightening sugar facts.

  • The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar every day while the average child consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar every day
  • In the American diet, added sugar alone accounts for 496 calories every day
  • Americans drink 53 gallons of soda per person, per year
    • The average can of soda has about 40 grams (10 tsp.) of sugar
    • In a 64 oz soda (like at a gas station or movie theater) there are 53 tsp. of sugar
      • Carbonated soft drinks are the largest source of refined sugar in the American diet.
  • Refined sugar is linked to:
    • Insomnia
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Hypertension
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Breakouts and skin irritation
    • Tooth decay
    • Metabolic syndrome
    • Obesity
    • Type-2 diabetes
  • Refined sugar has no nutritional value, besides empty calories
    • It does not contain any vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fats or fiber. Everything beneficial is removed during the refining process.
  • Consuming refined sugar depletes the body of B vitamins
    • Vitamin B deficiency causes symptoms like: heart palpitations, chronic fatigue, paranoia, anxiety, insomnia, difficulty focusing, restlessness, indigestion, rashes, and cravings for sugar.
  • Many foods contain hidden sugar
    • Condiments, breakfast cereals, white bread, soda, flavored yogurt, peanut butter, granola bars, tomato sauce, dried fruit, salad dressings, marinades and most processed foods contain added sugar, even if the food isn’t sweet
    • Beware of low-fat foods as well as they often use sugar to enhance flavor.

Remember, as with most indulgences, the key is moderation. Check out our blogs on how to have a healthy Halloween, and how to moderate your candy intake.

If you have a sweet tooth problem and want to lower your daily sugar intake, meet me for a  a FREE no-obligation nutrition consultation at Elite Sports Clubs!

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Written by Sarah Brunner, RDN, CD; Registered Dietitian

Sarah is certified in food allergies/intolerances and nutritional counseling, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; has a certificate in Dietetics from Mount Mary University; and a BA in Education and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.