{"id":197,"date":"2022-11-08T20:08:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T20:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgeorgesalem.com\/blog\/?p=197"},"modified":"2024-03-19T20:10:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T20:10:27","slug":"how-to-subtract-those-added-sugars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drgeorgesalem.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/08\/how-to-subtract-those-added-sugars\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Subtract Those Added Sugars"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sugars are the simplest carbohydrates, and are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products. Our bodies require these simple carbs for energy. (Even better, we don\u2019t just get energy<\/em> from fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy\u2014we also get healthy amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and even some protein!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Problems arise when we get too much of this good thing. Once our bodies have all the sugar they need for immediate energy, they store extra sugars in liver, muscle, and fat cells. Over time, excess dietary sugars can affect weight and blood sugar levels, with potentially damaging results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, sugar has an immediate effect on our oral health. The oral bacteria in plaque also need sugars for energy, which they use to make acids. An acidic environment in the mouth dissolves the minerals, which keep our tooth enamel strong. And these weak spots are vulnerable to decay. A steady diet of sugar-filled foods means that your enamel is constantly under acid attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it\u2019s really no wonder we hear a lot about avoiding \u201cadded sugars\u201d in our diets, for both our general health and for our dental health in particular. But the concept of \u201cadded sugar\u201d can be a bit misleading. If you\u2019re not putting five spoons of sugar on your breakfast cereal, or pouring half a jar of honey in your tea, or using a recipe that calls for a cup of corn syrup, you might think you\u2019re avoiding added sugars altogether. And that\u2019s just not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When dieticians talk about added sugars in our foods, they mean additional refined sugars (like white and brown sugars and corn syrup) that are used in preparing or processing foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike unprocessed foods, which have been minimally treated to keep them as natural as possible, processed foods have been baked, or frozen, or mixed with other foods, or somehow changed from their natural state. This is where \u201cadded sugars\u201d come in. Both home cooks and commercial processors use sugar to improve flavor, provide sweetness, and extend shelf life when preparing food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of the worst offenders? Store bought or homemade desserts like cakes and ice cream are prime candidates. Sodas? Most definitely. But it\u2019s not just the obvious culprits. Added sugars are found in many foods we usually think of as healthy, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n