Infographic: Are You Drinking Dangerous Amounts Of Sugar?
We are surrounded by obscene amounts of sugar every day, from candies, desserts and soda, to more seemingly-innocuous food items like yogurt or salad dressing. Our sugar intake is rising (from 1950 to 2000, Americans have increased their sugar intake almost 50 percent, and now eat 100 pounds of sugar per capita annually), but it's only recently that the World Health Organization set out to change that. According to the WHO, only 5 percent of our daily caloric intake should be from sugar. At a normal BMI, that would mean an adult should only consume 25 grams of sugar each day.
So what do you do to keep the sugar intake down? It's easier to cut out junk food like candy and not reach for that second slice of cake, but unless you're only drinking water, sugar is actually hiding in anything you drink on a daily basis. For instance, starting out your day with a bottle of Minute Maid apple juice means consuming 40 grams of sugar — almost two days' worth of your recommended daily allotment. Even skim milk isn't safe at a hefty 11 grams per serving.
Infographic by Ravi Bangaroo
Not surprisingly, Red Bull tips the scales at 52 grams of sugar per can (the equivalent of five Krispy Kreme doughnuts), and a 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola is 65 grams of sugar (You would be better off, sugar-wise, consuming four Oreos) Our advice? We're thinking it might be best just to stick to water.
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Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter@JoannaFantozzi