Sugar,Sugar,Everywhere

Sugar, Sugar, Everywhere

Introduction Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you like sugary treats? If you do, you are not alone. Most people love sweets. The average American eats just over 150 pounds (68 kg) of sugar a year. Yet people don't always know when they are eating sugar. That's because sugar can be found in foods they wouldn't expect.

What Is Sugar? Sugar is a natural ingredient in plant foods and milk. Apples, pears, and grapes contain sugar. Vegetables such as potatoes and yams have sugar, too. The white crystals in your sugar bowl are table sugar. Table sugar comes from a tall grass called sugar cane. It also comes from sugar beets.

When we eat milk and plant sugars, our body breaks them down. They are changed into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose is carried by the blood to all parts of the body. It provides energy to keep body parts working.

Hiding in Plain Sight The body can get all the sugar it needs from naturally sweet and starchy foods. Many prepared foods, though, are packed with extra sugar. It's no surprise that cakes, cookies, ice cream, and candy have added sugar. Sugar is also added to foods you might not expect.

Red pasta sauces and ketchup often have added sugar. Tomatoes can taste bitter when they are cooked. Sugar is added to get rid of the bad taste. Many low-fat sauces and salad dressings have sugar, too. Oils and fats give food flavor. When they are removed, the food doesn't taste as good. To give these foods flavor, sugar is added.