From the time a person is born, sugar-rich foods are introduced into their diet. With the introduction of various modern confectionery items with large amount of added sugars, it has become dangerous to the human body. Excess intake of added sugars have been proved to be hazardous to health. It causes various ailments like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. A recent report published in the 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Statement, showed that there has been a growing risk of cardiovascular diseases among children.

An average American consumes around 270 calories per day in added sugars. This is about 17 teaspoons. The 2015-2020 dietary guidelines from the government recommends consumption of added sugar worth 10 percent of a person's daily calorie intake. To get a better perspective, if a person consumes 2000 calories per day, his or her added sugar intake must be about 200 calories or less. A regular 12 ounce of soda contains about 10 teaspoons.

The AHA has also rolled out recommendations for each group and they recommend women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day and men about 9 teaspoons. Children below 2 years are advised not to consume any added sugar while children above that age, should consume below or equal to 25 grams per day, which is about 6 teaspoons.

Sugar exists in two forms: naturally occurring sugars, and artificial sugar added to various products. In naturally occurring sugars, which is found in various fruits and diary products, it is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. On the other hand, added-sugars are just concentrated sugar added to make the taste of the food better or as a preservative. They have little to none nutritional value whatsoever. One of the main hurdles when it comes to added-sugars is that they soak up the nutritional value of the naturally occurring sugars as well. This, in turn, leads to the overall nutritional value of the food decreasing, while the calorie count stacks up higher.

Some of the artificial sugars include, corn syrup, maple syrup, brown sugar, and molasses. There are various steps that can be taken to decrease the added-sugar intake. One of the main sources of such content is carbonated soft drinks, soda, sports drinks, flavored waters etc. Solid foods like pastries, cakes, ice-cream, and candy have large amount of added-sugar in them as well. All these can be replaced with naturally sweet fruits to get both the nutritional value and avoid harmful effects of the added-sugar. The juices of such fruits can be consumed by people who crave sweetness in their liquid.

There are various nutritional counseling services in areas like Chicago, where the consumption of added-sugar and its disastrous effect can be known. One would consult an expert to know where they stand on the calorie intake scale regarding added-sugars. For detailed understanding of a nutrient-rich diet, visit chicagolandmedical.com

With four locations in the Chicago metro area, Chicagoland Medical is committed to helping as many people as possible get and stay well, utilizing a natural first approach.