This is third part of my blog on more hidden Sugar Sources in Our common food.
In first part we learn how much harm sugar is doing to our body. In this part you will see more common food we think are healthy but are not.
When we eat sugar, we hurt our healthy weight-loss efforts in two ways:
1. We cause our fat cells to go into storage mode.
2. We stop fat-burning. Instead of burning fat while doing cardiovascular exercise, we are simply burning off all of the extra sugar that we consumed.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that elevates your blood sugar. Every time you consume sugar — or a product that contains sugar —- you’re not only elevating your blood sugar but you’re stopping fat loss. If you’re trying to lose body fat and excess weight, stay away from sugar. This essentially starves the fat cells so that they go away. After all, most of us exercise to burn body fat.
9. Chocolate Milk
How much sugar -1.5 teaspoons (6 grams) of added sugar in 8 oz.
Chocolate milk and other flavoured milks get their sweetness from 6 grams of added sugar. Less of a drink and more of a dessert, it's best to stick to plain milk, or to drizzle a little bit of your own chocolate syrup as an occasional treat. This way you can control the amount of added sugars and still enjoy one of childhood's simple pleasures.
10. Sports Drinks
How much sugar -3.5 teaspoons (14 grams) of added sugar in 8 oz.
Many people turn to sports drinks during the hot summer months to stay hydrated or replace lost electrolytes from sweating. There are definitely some situations in which sports drinks are warranted: running a marathon, prolonged athletic training, and severe illness, to name a few. Going for a brisk walk or a leisurely bike ride on a hot summer day is not one of these situations. Sports drinks pack in as much sugar as soda and essentially contribute empty calories that wreak havoc on our blood sugar and waistlines. If dehydration is a real concern for you due to working outdoors in the summer heat or if you are concerned about replacing your electrolytes, try a homemade sports drink or a low- or no-sugar added sports drink. Save yourself the calories and sugar.
11. Spaghetti Sauce
How much sugar -2 teaspoons (7 grams) of added sugar in 1/2 cup
Sure, the bulk of a pasta sauce's ingredients are tomatoes and other veggies (score!), but did you know that various forms of sugar (or corn syrup) are often added to your favourite red sauce? Manufacturers add sweeteners to tomato-based sauces to help cut down on the acidity of the tomatoes for a more widely appealing taste. But not all spaghetti sauces are created equal--some brands have 2-3 times the sugar of others! Look for pasta sauce with "no sugar added" on the label to reduce your added sugar intake by 10 grams or more per serving, or choose a jarred sauce that lists sweeteners near the very end of the ingredients list. Better yet, make your own pasta sauce from scratch (it's surprisingly easy) with fresh tomatoes, chopped onions, garlic, tomato paste, and basil. This way you can adjust the amount of sugar added, or skip the sweet stuff altogether.
12. Common Fruit Drinks
How much sugar- 4 teaspoons (15 grams) of added sugar in 1 cup
100% fruit juice is a very concentrated source of fructose (naturally occurring fruit sugar). Fruit drinks, on the other hand, are often packaged and marketed to look like "wholesome" fruit juice, but are mostly a mixture of added sugar and water. While 100% fruit juice does contain some vitamins and minerals, fruit drinks usually don't. To avoid these hidden sugars, read the ingredients label. Anything other than "100% fruit juice" is likely to include added sweeteners. But when it comes to eating more fruit, eating--not drinking--is still best. Whole, fresh fruit has more nutrients and fibre and is a far less concentrated source of sugar, natural or not.
