Did you know that your sugar intake can potentially affect your health?1 Learn more about the types of sugar, how sugar can impact your health, and use these tips to reduce your sugar intake.
Natural Versus Added Sugar: What’s the Difference
Not all sugar is bad for you. Nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains naturally contain sugars along with essential vitamins and minerals that support overall health. However, many foods and beverages include added sugars, which can lead to excessive intake. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, added sugars should make up less than 10% of your total daily calories. 1
Most foods contain added sugars.1 Here are a few examples of foods and drinks that may have added sugar:1
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Soft drinks
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Cereals
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Cookies
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Candy
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Fruit drinks
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Flavored yogurts
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Condiments like ketchup
How Does Sugar Affect Your Overall Health?
There are many reasons why people want to cut back on sugar. Research shows that too much sugar can: 1,2
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Increase your risk of obesity or diabetes
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Contribute to heart disease
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Raise the level of bad cholesterol
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Play a role in high blood pressure
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Increase inflammation in the body
If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, reducing your sugar intake may help.
How to Decrease Your Sugar Intake and Reduce Sugar Cravings
Here are some tips to help you cut back on sugar: 3,4,5
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Check nutrition labels. Understanding how much sugar is in foods and drinks can help you make informed decisions and monitor your sugar intake. It might also help to keep a food journal to understand how much sugar you're eating throughout the day.
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Try unsweetened beverages. Reach of unsweetened drinks instead of beverages with added sugars. If you normally have sugary drinks, try Nuun Zero Sugar Hydration Tablets instead. These effervescent tablets are made with five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration and come in refreshing flavors like Wild Strawberry and Orange Sunrise.
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Try new flavors. Instead of sugar, add warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, or nutmeg to your food. You can also swap sugary condiments like barbeque sauce with fresh salsa or mustard.
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Make a healthier dessert. If you crave a sweet treat at the end of the day, consider making a parfait with plain yogurt and fruit.
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Use less sugar or low-calorie sweeteners. If you add sugar to your coffee or tea, slowly decrease the amount of sugar you normally put in to get your taste buds to adjust to less sugar. Try using less sugar in recipes or try low-calorie or no-calorie sugar substitutes.
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Get enough sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, the hormone that tells your body that it’s hungry increases. And when you’re tired, you might reach for sugary foods, thinking you’ll get extra energy from them. If you find yourself craving sugar, one positive lifestyle change could be to ensure you get enough sleep each night.
Now that you’ve learned how to cut back on sugar, you’re one step closer to living a healthier lifestyle. Don’t forget to check out Nuun Zero Sugar Hydration Tablets for refreshing, clean hydration made with hard-working electrolytes and no sugar.
†Clean is defined as non-GMO, vegan and gluten free.
[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
[2] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-sugar-bad-for-your-heart
[5] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-stop-sugar-cravings
