9 Hidden Sources Of Sugar In Your Diet

SPECIAL FROM Grandparents.com Sugar is not your friend. The average American eats between 150 and 170 pounds of refined sugars a year, according to the The United States Department of Agriculture. That's over 5,000 tablespoons, or...the weight of an average person. "Refined, or processed sugar, is stripped of all of its natural nutrients, leaving you with empty calories that make it easy to pack on extra weight," says nutrition and fitness expert Dr. Pamela Peeke, author of The New York Times Bestseller "The Hunger Fix." "When the weight is deposited deep in our bellies, a common occurrence after the age of 50, you increase the risk for heart disease and cancer." Refined sugar also increases insulin levels and contributes to insulin resistance which leads to diabetes, says Dr. Peeke. As if that isn't enough to put a hold on the sweet stuff, refined sugar can also cause your cells to age more quickly and lead to excessive inflammation, which increases your risk for many diseases. You know to limit sweet treats, but watch out for these nine foods which appear to be healthy, but in truth, are loaded with refined sugars. 1. Granola cereals or bars. These might look super healthy, but granola-based cereals can have up to 15 grams of refined sugar in less than a cup. That's like eating three teaspoons of sugar. Granola bars can be even worse with up to 25 grams in a small bar, which is equal to the amount of sugar in a Hershey bar. "Granola bars are densely packed calories t...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news