About 75% of the food in our supermarkets contains hidden sugars. But what are hidden sugars?
These are the added sugars in food products. They make controlling our sugar consumption extremely difficult. You’ll find the sugars in the least unlikely places, and they can undermine your diet and weight loss efforts.
Examples of Hidden Sugars
Many foods are marketed as “healthy,” but they contain huge amounts of added sugar. In fact, most foods labeled as “diet,” “no-fat,” or “low-fat” simply replace the fat content with sugar or sugar substitutes.
When reading food labels, don’t just look for the word sugar. There are more than 61 different names for sugar on food labels. The most common names include:
- Aspartame
- Sucrose
- Molasses
- Saccharin
- Agave nectar
- Cane juice
- Dextrose
- Glucose
- Maltose
- Rice Syrup
- Maltodextrin
- Barley Malt
Common Foods With Hidden Sugars
Here are some foods that contain much more sugar than you would imagine. Treat them with a lot of caution:
BBQ Sauce
According to analysts’ findings, up to 40% by weight of BBQ sauce can be pure sugar. Nonetheless, on average, a tablespoon of BBQ sauce contains about 7 grams of sugar. That means five tablespoons of the sauce will deliver the whole of your recommended daily allowance.
Baked Beans
While they are an excellent sauce of protein, baked beans can be astonishingly high in sugar. A 225-gram tin of baked beans can contain up to 20 grams of sugar. That is about five tablespoons of sugar.
Fortunately, you can find “no sugar added” baked beans. These types contain 65% less sugar compared to ordinary baked beans. They are a better choice as they are normally also lower in calories and fat.
Dried Fruit
Many companies are adding extra sugar in the dried fruit. This makes the product as sweet as candy. A 1/3 cup of dried fruit can contain up to 24 grams of sugar.
Energy Drinks
Whenever you need to re-energize, think twice before you grab that energy drink. A can of energy drink can contain up to 83 grams of sugar.
Yogurts
Many weight-loss commercials tout yogurt as a healthy treat. You should realize, however, that fruit yogurts can contain up to 19 grams of sugar.
Pasta Sauce
If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight and lead a healthy life, consider cutting back on your consumption of pasta sauce. Every half cup of pasta sauce can contain up to 12 grams of sugar.
Granola Bars
While it masquerades as “healthy,” granola bars contain a lot of sugar. The granola itself can be a healthy treat, but those convenient bars are made of more than just whole-grain oats. A single bar contains at least 12 grams of sugar.
The best way to avoid hidden sugars is to focus on consuming fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, seeds, legumes, and nuts. For fast yet safe and healthy weight loss, you can subscribe to the Memphis Diet Program.