 |
|
FALL 2009 |
HEALTHY BODIES | SOUND MINDS | A SAFE PLACE TO WORK |
| CONTENTS Features Maintain Don't Gain Path to Productivity Move from efficient to effective I Have to Take this Call Workplace cell phone etiquette The AHA Weighs in On Sugar Limit dietary “added sugars” Departments The Scoop Thanksgiving myth buster
Subscribe/Unsubscribe 
|
The American Heart Association Weighs in on Sugar
 FOR THE FIRST TIME, the AHA has issued a scientific statement recommending that people limit their intake of added sugars.
The statement, published in September’s issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, acknowledges the relationship between excess added sugars and health problems associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nutritional deficiencies, and some cardiovascular risk factors.
Not to be confused with complex carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars, added sugars refers to what is added to foods during processing or preparation and includes sugars and syrups added at the table.
Steadily increasing over the past 30 years, the consumption of added sugars in the United States is out of control. Americans consume an average of about 355 calories (22.2 teaspoons) of added sugars per day – mostly from desserts, candy, ready-to-eat cereals, and the number one culprit: liquid calories in the form of soft drinks and fruit drinks (about 130 calories per 12-ounce serving).
In their statement, the AHA places upper limits on the consumption of added-sugars. They recommend that you get no more than 100 discretionary calories per day from added sugars. This is equal to about 6 teaspoons of table sugar. Discretionary calories are the small number of calories left over after you’ve eaten a balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean proteins.
If you're not sure whether you’re eating a balanced diet, find out by using the on the MyPyramid Menu Planner. At the MyPyramid Website, you’ll find personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help you make the best food choices based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
For individualized dietary planning and consultation, FOH can help. Contact FOH to find out about the full range of dietary education and health promotion services available exclusively to Federal employees.
|