I WILL: Swap My Sweet Tooth for a Sweet Lie

New information is coming out each day about just how harmful added sugars are to your health. These added sugars increase our risk of diabetes and heart disease, and there are concerns it can also increase the risk of cancer. Decreasing your added sugar intake should lower your risk of many chronic problems – including obesity. 

Remember to keep your added sugars to 36 grams (9 teaspoons) per day for men, or 24 grams (6 teaspoons) per day for women.  

Start Small: Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, and sugar substitutes when you can. 

Finish Remarkable: Read food labels and avoid processed foods with added sugar – the newer food label makes it even easier. You’ll be surprised to see how much sugar plays a role in products that you might not consider being sweet, such as ketchup, yogurt, and some brands of peanut butter. 

Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label is a great way to know the sugar values in many of your foods. In 2020, the regulated label was updated to include added sugars. You will find a total sugars section that shares the amount present in each serving and of that how much is added sugars.

How can we help? Basecamp offers resources to support your wellness around this topic! Here’s what’s available…

• Our monthly blog, Ask the RD, answers nutrition-focused questions submitted by our community. Our registered dietitian provides answers and resources to each. Find submitted sugar-related questions here.

• Check out our In the Kitchen monthly nutrition education program focused on offering a rotation of topics to help with the need-to-know highlights, ideas to bring the knowledge into your home, and recipes to support healthy nutrition choices.