Fitness Facts: Hidden effects of sugar

By Connie Colbert
Director, Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic

Most people think of reducing their sugar intake simply as a means to lose weight or prevent and treat diabetes. But excessive sugar intake has many other negative effects on our body.

Sugar can …

These are only to list a few! An excess intake of sugar affects the whole body.

The average American consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar each week. In the past 20 years, the consumption of sugar has risen from 26 pounds to 135 pounds of sugar per person per year. Before the turn of the century, the average consumption was less than five pounds per person.

Sugar is hidden in different forms, such as sucrose, dextrose, maltose and high fructose corn syrup and processed into breads, breakfast cereals, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce and most microwavable meals.

How much is too much?

The World Health Organization is dropping its sugar intake recommendations from 10 percent of your daily calorie intake to 5 percent.

For an adult of a normal body mass index (BMI), that works out to about 6 teaspoons -- or 25 grams -- of sugar per day.

To put this into perspective, here are a list of common drinks with their sugar content:

As you can see, eliminating sugary drinks can have a profound effect on your health!