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Sugar is the real culprit.
For many years people have been led to believe that saturated fat is the main cause of heart disease. However new studies have revealed that saturated fat is far less harmful than sugar. It is no surprise that that chocolates, fizzy drinks, sweets and cakes are loaded with added sugar. But there are other culprits that you might not associate with added sugar.
These are the foods that are packed with hidden sugar.
Food manufacturing companies have become wise to the outcry of added sugar by health practitioners. With clever marketing they have started to disguise the sugar in their products so that consumers do not know how much they are really eating.
They add sugar into foods to enhance the taste, especially in reduced fat foods, as foods without fat can be tasteless, kind of like eating a piece of cardboard.
So, the foods you think are healthy, because they are low fat, actually may be doing you more harm than good. These foods are loaded with sugar, processed and don't really have any staying power.
This leaves you looking for more to eat and the cycle repeats itself.
Researchers have proved that sugar is instrumental in the worldwide rise of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
We all have favorite things we eat that taste delicious, and which we may not realize are rich in added sugar.
Here are just a few of them:
Most low fat items, including yogurt and low fat ice cream have added sugar.
Breakfast cereals, especially those directed at children, are packed with sugar.
Sauces and soups ranging from basic tomato sauce to a spicy curry delicacy have large amounts of added sugar.
All condiments and salad dressings, especially the so-called low fat ones are filled with sugar. Mayonnaise, honey and salad dressings are delicious, but loaded with hidden sugar which has been added to them.
Canned baked beans, although high in fiber, contain lots of sugar and other non essentials.
Muffins, even those with seeds and nuts, are really just cakes high in sugar.
Protein and energy bars are not necessarily healthy snacks. They may contain vegetable protein and some vitamins, but they are also exceedingly rich in refined flour and added sugar products.
There is sugar and calories in alcoholic drinks, which can add up fast.
White bread and bagels also have added sugar.
Scientists in the food industry have got the ratio of fat, sugar and salt in their products just right to make them tasty enough for you to want more and more.
How to identify hidden sugars in foods.
You need to be aware of the many different ways sugar is identified on the labels by clever marketers.
Here are some to look out for:
Agave nectar, brown sugar, cane sugar.
Corn sweetener, corn syrup.
Dextrose, fructose, organic evaporated cane juice, sucrose, syrup.
Glucose, fruit juice concentrates, honey.
Lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses.
Date sugar, carob syrup....
There are at least 56 different names for sugar!
How to avoid buying foods with hidden sugar content.
You do not have to give up your favorite foods, but if you are serious about the dangers of hidden sugar you should check the labels of products thoroughly. Each type of sugar has to be individually named on the label. By checking the nutrition facts on packaged foods – you could be surprised by the lack of any real nutrition in products.
One teaspoon of sugar is equivalent to 4 grams of sugar, and on average up to 16 grams may be added to a product, equal to 4 teaspoons of sugar. This is in the hidden, added sugar from processed, off-the-shelf foods, not the obvious added sugar from cakes, sweets and deserts. So, you could be overloading your body without even realizing it.
Check the ingredients and see if you can identify the different forms of sugar.
Checking labels may feel time- consuming, but the once you are familiar with the products and different names for sugar, making healthier choices will be a lot easier.
A worldwide epidemic.
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity and tooth-decay, have almost reached epidemic proportions. A poor diet, overeating, and especially high sugar intake, play a huge role in these conditions.