Terry L. Schraeder, M.D., opened up on WBUR’s Common Health to confess her addiction – her sugar addiction. It turns out that despite the constant hammering of awareness teaching us how sugar in our diets affects our health, even doctors fall victim to the overwhelming temptation, and it can even happen on accident.
It all started with a can of soda disguised as sparkling orange juice. It had become my “go to” treat. My pick-me-up when I was low. In fact, it gave me a rush of energy every time I drank it. One day, I looked at the label to see if it contained caffeine. No caffeine, just added sugar. In fact, it contained 32 grams of sugar — eight teaspoons per can — with sugar second only to water as the largest ingredient. The World Health Organization recommends women not consume more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day — or about 5 percent of total calories as added sugar. Men can have up to nine teaspoons.
Sugar consumption in the U.S. has skyrocketed by 30% over the past three decades, according to a study present at ObesityWeek in Boston last week. The country is soaking up their sugar at an alarming rate of 300 calories of added sugar each day, as opposed to the recommended 100.
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“Scientists know that sugar affects the neurotransmitters in our brains, the hormones and fat in our bodies, and feeds the bacteria causing decay in our teeth,” says Schraeder. “But we may not know how much we are eating. It is not easy to figure out the “added sugar” by reading nutrition labels.”
It might not be easy, but it’s possible. Schraeder has changed her diet now by paying very close attention to food labels, specifically added sugar numbers, and she feels much healthier. It’s not about totally denying yourself of the things you like, but even paying attention to which kind of peanut butter you buy could make a difference.
[Photo from flickr user Pay No Mind]