What is “Added Sugar”?

The term added sugar is everywhere isn’t it?

We have heard that added sugar is harmful to the human body and that we must avoid it, but do we know what exactly is added sugar?

What is the meaning of “added sugar”?

Added sugars are an ingredient that is added into food during its processing. You will find them in general packaged foods, sweeteners, sugar syrups, soft drinks and even juices! They do not include naturally occurring sugars that are found in fruits and vegetables. The main sources of added sugars in our diet are beverages, desserts, baked goods and sweets. The daily consumption of value of added sugars is about 50 grams a day for an average adult.

1. Are Added Sugars Harmful

Foods that contain added sugar contain more calories and add very little nutrition value. When you consume too much-added sugar, it raises your risk of developing health issues.

2. Added Sugars are Poor for Nutrition

When you choose to consume foods with added sugar, they are not adding nutritional value to your diet. They are simply adding calories without any nutrition.

3. Added Sugars can lead to Weight Gain

A major reason you might be gaining weight is due to consumption of foods with added sugars.

4. Added Sugars cause an increase in Triglycerides

Triglycerides is a type of fat that is present in our body’s bloodstream as well as in its fat tissues. When you consume too much added sugar, the spike in triglycerides can put you at the risk of developing heart disease.

5. Added Sugars cause an Tooth Decay

Added sugar can lead to tooth decay as sugar allows bacteria to multiply and grow. Consuming too much added sugar can therefore can damage your teeth and cause cavities.

So how does one combat sugar cravings?

By consuming Healthy Sugar Foods.

While foods with added sugars are not a healthy options, there are healthy sugar foods to help you fight cravings. These are the sugars found in:

• Fruits
• Berries
• Dark Chocolate
• Low Fat Yogurt
• Dates

How Can I Recognize Added Sugar?

Added sugar is mentioned on the nutrition label of packaged food – so the best way to recognize added sugars is by reading the labels of the foods you are planning to get! This not only tells you whether the product has added sugar, but it also shows you how much sugar is present in the said product. Therefore you can make an informed decision about whether to include it in your diet or not. It is important to remember that sugar has multiple names so lookout for these:

• Anything ending with ‘ose’
• Fructose
• Glucose
• Sucrose
• Maltose
• Dextrose
• Cane syrup or cane juice
• Corn sweetener
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Fruit juice concentrate
• Nectar
• Honey
• Malt
• Maple syrup
• Molasses

How can I reduce Sugar Levels And Detox my Body?

Here are Plix’s Life’s tips to reduce your sugar intake and start an added sugar detox:

• Drink at least three liters of water every day to flush out any toxins from the body.
• When you crave something sweet, choose a fruit.
• Instead of cola, opt for sugar-free natural fruit juices.

When you embark on a journey to reduce your intake of added sugar,  you must make sure you keep your energy levels optimal and detox your body to get rid of any harmful toxins, which can easily be done with the help of Plix Life’s multitude products. Check out our extensive catalog of healthy food options today.