2015’s theme for National Nutrition Month’s is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle,” which encourages everyone to adopt eating and physical activity plans focused on consuming fewer calories, making informed food choices and getting daily exercise in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote overall health. 

There are many ways to upgrade your Standard American Diet, and one of the standouts is to REDUCE YOUR SUGAR INTAKE. 

Is Sugar Affecting Your Health?

According to the National Cancer Institute, Americans consume an average of about 22 teaspoons a day of added sugar. This far exceeds the amount the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends: a daily maximum of six teaspoons for women and nine for men per day. Health issues such as mood swings, rheumatoid arthritis and cavities can be affected by sugar intake, and the AHA says added sugar is associated with increased risks of high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels.

To understand how much sugar you are consuming, start by reading labels and especially ingredients. Minimize the products that list sugar as one of the main ingredients.

When label reading, 4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar! Familiarize yourself with the other words that signal sugar!

 In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods