Simple food swap STOPS disease and early death?!
If there was one word that epitomizes the foundation of the typical American diet, it’s gotta be SUGAR!
And with the rise (and convenience) of processed JUNK all around us, I’m NOT surprised!
In fact, studies have found that the average American eats over 150 POUNDS of sugar in one year…
And, nearly 15% of American adults’ total caloric intake comes from added sugars!
YIKES!
It’s no wonder this overabundance of sugar has led to increased cases of diabetes and heart disease!
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In fact, just one simple food swap could PREVENT an early death… and slam the brakes on a number of diseases!
According to a study out of Massachusetts General Hospital, cutting 20% of sugar from packaged foods and 40% from beverages could prevent…
- 490,000 cardiovascular DEATHS…
- 750,000 cases of diabetes…
- and stop 2.48 million cardiovascular disease events (like stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest).
Yes, just 20% is THAT powerful!
Imagine what it could do for you.
Think about it… if a food contains 40 grams of sugar, simply reducing that to 32 grams could go a long way to keeping you healthy!
Researchers are hoping to use this data to help guide and implement broader policies and regulations on how much sugar is used to make processed foods.
But that’s not something you need to wait around for.
That’s because there are simple steps you can take NOW to eliminate processed sugars from your diet and help get you on the fast-track to better overall health.
The single best thing you can do is to grocery shop along the outer perimeter of the store… and try your best to avoid ‘inside aisle’ foods .
The perimeter is typically where you’ll find natural foods like meats, eggs, vegetables, and fruit… foods that don’t contain ANY added sugars.
Whereas, processed foods that are loaded with added sugars are found on the inside aisles.
If you do find yourself needing staples from those ‘inside’ aisles, it’s all about making smart choices. Start by reading the nutrition labels.
An easy example is the cereal aisle – instead of grabbing a box of sugary cereal, opt for plain oats. Top them with fruit and you have a delicious, no sugar-added bowl of oatmeal to start your day!
To cutting the junk,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
ScienceDaily. “Reducing sugar in packaged foods can prevent disease in millions.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210827082431.htm
Krans, Brian. “America’s Deadly Sugar Addiction Has Reached Epidemic Levels.” https://www.healthline.com/health/sugar/americas-deadly-sugar-addiction
