Tis the season for desserts, cocktails and everything thats delicious.
Although diet advice does change throughout the years, likely most health experts would agree: You dont want an excessive amount of sugar in your system. Occasional treats and splurges are fun, but a diet thats consistently filled with excess sugar can lead to things like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Our bodies do need sugar, but youll want to steer clear of added sugars, like in processed food, which can be way more than what we need.
Follow these steps to limit the amount of sugar you consume daily, and improve your overall health.
A lot of people dont realize just how much sugar theyre consuming in their drinks every day.
A soda can have as much sugar as a candy bar.
Even if you dont eat candy or chocolate, you could still be overindulging when it comes to sugar.
Buying sugar-heavy coffee daily will absolutely cause your sugar intake to skyrocket. As hard as it may be, you have to skip the sugary drinks in favor of water.
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Simply switching to water with every meal will most definitely limit the amount of sugar you consume daily.
Healthy choices in the morning will set you up for success.
The sad truth is, a lot of breakfast food is full of sugar. Donuts, muffins, pancakes with syrup, and cereal can all be chock-full of unwanted sugar.
High sugar intake in the morning will leave you feeling sluggish instead of energized. Opt for healthier breakfast options like a fruit smoothie, oatmeal or eggs.
Dont let breakfast skew your sugar intake for the rest of the day.
There are probably a lot of foods you believe are low in sugar that actually arent.
Sugar can even hide in bread or dried fruit. Dont play the guessing game when it comes to sugar -- know exactly how much sugar is in everything youre purchasing.
Unfortunately, reading the label isnt always easy, as manufacturers use many names for sugar. Search the nutrition label for high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, maltose, dextrose, rice syrup, or molasses.
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When you get smarter about checking your nutrition labels, youll be more in control of the amount of sugar you consume.
Its fine to have dessert on occasion, but if youre a daily dessert eater, it might be time to cut back.
If youre eating something sweet every time you have a meal, your sugar intake might be too high.
If you find your sweet tooth is hard to control after you eat, try having a few pieces of fresh fruit. Allow natural sweetness to quell your cravings.
Remember, its OK to have sweet treats in moderation. Being militaristic about your diet will drain you and may cause you to give up on healthy eating entirely.
So, dont be afraid to grab some candy now and again, just make sure you arent also consuming too much sugar on a daily basis.
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3 easy ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet - KSAT San Antonio
