Healing Way Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Portland OR

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Is There a Recommended Daily Allowance for Sugar?

05.27.2016 by Marnie Freeman, LAc. //

3628481_sI was shocked to learn that there actually is!

Several years back the World Health Organization (WHO), after much debate, made the recommendation that sugar should not be more than 10% of total caloric intake. When the United States was informed of their intention to publish this recommendation, the United States Congress demanded that this  information not be released to the public.

In fact, the World health Organization would not relent until Congress threatened to take away the 401 million dollars that was budgeted for WHO. Sadly WHO backed down, and the recommendation was never published.

Sugar consumption in the US

In the years since, America has become the largest consumer of refined sugar in the world. Obesity and diabetes, in both children and adults, has become epidemic.

Interestingly, if you look at the “Nutrition Facts” which are listed on all product packaging — including facts like total calories, carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals — sugar is the only substance that does not have a percent daily value (DV) listed.

Now why is that?

With obesity and diabetes sky rocketing across the world, doctors and scientists  with the World Health organization have now revised their opinion, and decreased the recommended daily allowance to 5% of total calories.

So how may grams does that come out to each day?

KidsYouthAdults
1000 calories, 12 g sugar daily – (3 teaspoons)
1600 calories, 20 g sugar daily – (5 teaspoons)
2000 calories, 25 g sugar daily – (6 teaspoons)

How much sugar do you consume?

To get a better idea of the amount of sugar being consumed, here are some interesting sugar facts:

  • Coke (12 ozs), 39 grams
  • Granola bar, 8 -12 grams
  • Fruit Snacks, 10 – 16 grams
  • Cookies (2 -3), 12 – 14 grams
  • Sugared cereal (3/4 c), 10 – 12 grams
  • Fruit juice (1 cup), 20- 40  grams
  • Pop Tarts, 17 grams
  • Milk 1%  (1 cup), 13 grams
  • Nutrigrain Bars, 13 grams
  • Organic Health Valley cereal bar, 14 grams
  • Cinabon Cinnamon Roll, 55 grams
  • Cake, 17 – 20 grams
  • Candy bar, 20 – 30 grams
  • Jam/Jelly (1 Tbs), 12 grams
  • Skittles ( 2.6 ozs), 47 grams
  • Starburst,  34 grams

Let’s put together a little breakfast and lunch for your child:

Breakfast:

  • 8 ozs orange juice, 18 grams
  • 3/4 cup cereal with 1/2  cup 1% milk, 18 grams
  • 1 piece of toast with jam, 10 grams

Breakfast total sugar: 46 grams

That comes out to 11 teaspoons of sugar for breakfast.

Lunch:

  • P B & J Sandwich, 15 grams
  • Fruit snacks, 12 grams
  • Granola Bar, 10 grams
  • Sun Chips (1 oz),  2  grams
  • Apple   3″ diameter, 19 grams
  • Chips Ahoy (3), 13 grams

Lunch total: 71 grams

That comes out to 18 teaspoons of sugar for lunch.

Extra lucky kid, add:

  • Juice box, 18 grams (another 4.5 teaspoons sugar), or
  • Carton of chocolate milk, 20 grams  (12 grams lactose, 8 grams added sugar)

And all of this sugar is going into the body.

Some of it is natural sugar like fructose from the apple, and lactose from the milk, but most of it is refined sugar which is the worst sugar for the body and can only be stored as fat.

Now let me ask you this… is this amount of sugar added to your body on a daily basis healthy? Or harmful to your health?

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3133 NE Prescott Street
Portland, OR

Tel: 503-282-5666

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Healing Way Acupuncture

3133 NE Prescott Street
Portland, OR

Tel: 503-282-5666

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