Foods that are high in sugar may taste good, but eating too much of them can cause weight gain and a slew of other health problems. Eating sugary foods can cause type II diabetes, hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, weight gain, obesity, tooth decay and general malaise. Sometimes foods you think are healthy may contain more sugar than you think. You should which sugary foods should be avoided.
Step 1
Read the label. You'd be surprised where sugar is hiding out in the foods you eat every day. Although you may not consider condiments to be part of your meal, if you're putting ketchup on something, you are adding extra sugar to your your diet. Most cereals, even the supposedly healthy cereals like Raisin Bran, usually contain sugar. Read the label every time you buy something, and keep an eye out for sugar, high fructose and corn syrup on the label, which will all cause your blood sugar to spike.
Step 2
Avoid fruit juices like fruit punch and cranberry juice cocktail. These juices have as much sugar--or sometimes more, depending on the brand--as soda. The only juice that does not contain processed or refined sugar is usually labeled "100-percent juice" clearly on the label. Even 100-percent fruit juices contain fructose, a sugar derived from fruit, so drink it sparingly.
Step 3
Stay away from refined carbohydrates, like white bread and white rice. Although foods like white bread and white rice do not contain sugar as an ingredient, the white flour quickly turns into sugar when it is digested. Rather than eating white rice or white bread, stick with whole grains and brown rice, which contain less sugar and will sustain your body longer.
Step 4
Limit how often you eat at restaurants. Restaurants prepare food in any way possible to make it taste good. Expect sugar to be present in most foods you order in a restaurant, and do not assume that just because you are ordering something seemingly healthy that it does not contain sugar. Cooking a meal at home is almost always healthier than ordering it in a restaurant, provided you do not add excess sugar.
Step 5
Stock your fridge with snacks you know are healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables like peaches, apples, oranges, celery, carrots and broccoli are the perfect snacks to enjoy when you're hungry throughout the day. Rather than reaching for a so-called healthy snack like a granola bar, which will probably contain sugar if you're buying it from your grocery store, keep your hunger at bay with fresh produce, which will keep you fuller for longer.
Tips and Warnings
- Eating sugar only sparingly will reduce the body's cravings for sugar in the long run.
- Consult your nutritionist or doctor before using these tips if you are on a special diet due to a health condition or disorder.
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