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How much sugar are you really consuming? And what type of havoc is it wrecking on your brain, body and behavior?
Here’s the truth: Many people think that if they don’t drink soda and juices or care much for candy, they’re in the clear. But that’s not necessarily the case. If you love fruit and pasta, tend to choose seemingly innocent pre-made salad dressings or enjoy a glass of wine or two at night, you may be consuming more sugar than a kid on Halloween.
Although many have heard the more “clinical” downsides of excess sugar intake such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, not many understand the immediate and often cyclical impact of sugar on our day-to-day lives, including sleepiness, “brain fog,” memory deficiency, depression, lack of motivation and aggression, among other effects.
Though some sugars, including those from fruits, whole foods or plant-based sources, can be a beneficial part of our diets, "natural" sugars can become problematic when coupled with the excess of added sugar in most modern-day diets. For that reason, it's important to understand how much total sugar you're consuming.
During this 21-day challenge, KKR Wellness Works and Coach Brandee, MS, RDN, CDN, will:
How much sugar are you really consuming? And what type of havoc is it wrecking on your brain, body and behavior?
Here’s the truth: Many people think that if they don’t drink soda and juices or care much for candy, they’re in the clear. But that’s not necessarily the case. If you love fruit and pasta, tend to choose seemingly innocent pre-made salad dressings or enjoy a glass of wine or two at night, you may be consuming more sugar than a kid on Halloween.
Although many have heard the more “clinical” downsides of excess sugar intake such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, not many understand the immediate and often cyclical impact of sugar on our day-to-day lives, including sleepiness, “brain fog,” memory deficiency, depression, lack of motivation and aggression, among other effects.
Though some sugars, including those from fruits, whole foods or plant-based sources, can be a beneficial part of our diets, "natural" sugars can become problematic when coupled with the excess of added sugar in most modern-day diets. For that reason, it's important to understand how much total sugar you're consuming.
During this 21-day challenge, KKR Wellness Works and Coach Brandee, MS, RDN, CDN, will:
- Offer daily tasks to help you differentiate the different types of sugar (including natural vs. added)
- Understand your recommended added sugar intake
- Observe your body’s reaction to sugar in general
- Gently hack inevitable sugar cravings
- Compassionately address bigger behaviors that lead to better overall food decisions over time.
Additional Resources
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The Facts
Reputable Sources for Dietary Guidelines |
For Fun
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The 56 names of sugar
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Want to dig in deeper? There are differences between natural sugar and added sugar…
- Added Sugars are sugars from external sources that are added to a food or recipe. They DO NOT occur naturally in food so they DO count towards your Added Sugar Recommendation.
- Natural Sugars are sugars that occur naturally in a food, such as fruits, vegetables and dairy, and DO NOT count towards your daily Added Sugar Recommendation. Because whole foods also contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial compounds said to outweigh negative benefits of sugar consumption, there is no reason to avoid naturally occurring sugars but instead be conscious of total sugar intake.
- Fruit juice is the natural sugar extracted from fruit. When you eat a piece of whole fruit, there is only a small amount of juice (fructose) in the piece of fruit. But once you extract the juice from multiple pieces of fruit to make one glass of juice you end of up with a glass of “sugar." Be mindful when you see "fruit juice" listed on a nutrition label as it's just another word for sugar. One 4 ounce glass of juice counts as 15 grams of Added Sugar. Yikes!
- Natural sugars like honey, maple syrup, molasses and agave nectar are naturally occurring but they are simple sugars added to foods so they count as Added Sugar. One teaspoon of either contains about 4 grams of Added Sugar.
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KKR's Coach Is here To support YOU Through Just 1 Thing and Beyond!Program available to US employees only at this time.
Brandee Ellis is a registered dietitian-nutritionist with a master’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, New York. Brandee specializes in nutrition, exercise and yoga, and enjoys helping people find their own road to happiness, good health and living well.
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