Too Much Sugar | Important Research

buy microsoft office enterprise 2007

buy Microsoft Office 2003 Professional sp3buy autodesk autocad 2009

Too Much Sugar

The low nutrient density of many sugary foods makes their consumption incompatible with eating a nutritious diet at an energy level that maintains a healthful weight. While dietary guidelines almost always recommend a diet moderate in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugars, few if any quantify the specifics of appropriate daily sugar intake.

A study of 15,010 individuals (two years of age and older) attempted to identify food sources of added sweeteners, defined as "all sugars used as ingredients in processed and prepared foods" and "sugars eaten separately or added to foods at the table." Patients involved in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals recorded a 24-hour recall of dietary intake for this study. Intake of added sweeteners was calculated, with specific attention paid to variables such as: average intakes of added sweeteners from all food sources and from specific categories; contribution of added sweeteners to total energy intake; and percentage contribution of each food category to total intake of added sweeteners. Results of the analysis revealed that:

Subjects consumed the equivalent of 82 grams of carbohydrates per day from added sweeteners, accounting for 16% of total energy intake.

As a percentage of energy, adolescents (male and female) consumed the most added sweeteners (on average, 20% of total energy).

The primary source of added sweeteners was soft drinks, which accounted for 33% of intake. Other sources included table sugars, syrups, sweetened grains, fruit drinks and milk products.

Conclusions: Americans' intakes of added sweeteners exceed recommended levels in terms of overall dietary guidelines (current recommendations suggest that sugar comprise 6-10% of energy intake). This is especially true in the adolescent population. Given the overall high intakes of added sweeteners by Americans, the authors emphasize the importance of "ongoing monitoring of the impact of intake of added sweeteners on nutrient intake, energy intake, and body weight is important."

Note: As the authors state, nutrition education is more effective if dietary behaviors are addressed specifically. Many patients may not be aware of the amount of sugar in common foods; increasing their awareness may help reduce their daily intake.

Guthrie JF, Morton JF. Food sources of added sweeteners in the diets of Americans. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2000:100, pp43-48, 51.