Sugar Awareness Week lasts for five days each January. In 2018, it runs from the 16^th to the 20^th. In this five-day stretch, the goal is to quit sugar and see how you feel.

Most people don’t stop to think about all the sugar they consume each day. When reading ingredients, things like fruit juice concentrate, lactose, maltodextrin, maltose, sucrose, and sorbitol often get overlooked. Those are forms of sugar.

The American Heart Association suggests that men and women do not consume more than 9 and 6 teaspoons, respectively, each day. Many people consume far more than this. In fact, the University of California San Francisco reports that the people in the U.S. consume approximately 19.5 teaspoons each day.

The Dangers of Sugar.

Research has found that sugar affects the brain in the same manner that drugs and alcohol do. Sugar is addictive. Some sugars lead the brain to ignore messages that tell a person when they feel full. It’s believed that this may play a part in why obesity is a problem today.

A 15-year study found that people who eat a lot of sugar had a much higher risk of dying from heart disease. Sugar also increases the risk of diabetes and certain forms of cancer.

Cutting Sugar For Good.

Reading food labels is important. If your parents want to lower their sugar intake, they need to scour labels for sugar and all the associated forms of sugar like glucose or sucrose. They may discover their favorite bakery bread, salad dressing, or coffee creamer is hiding sugar.

One can of soda has more than 10 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than the American Heart Association’s recommended sugar intake. Switching to seltzer ensures your parents have a sugar-free fizzy drink. Diet sodas, while they don’t have sugar, do have artificial sweeteners that keep feeding the cravings for sugary sweet beverages.

Fill Up on Fiber.

Fiber is a good way for seniors to avoid constipation. It’s also a great way to feel fuller for a longer period of time. When you or your parents are planning a weekly menu, make sure fiber-rich foods are a big part of the menu.

If your parents struggle with meal preparation and menu planning, look into home care services. A professional caregiver can help your mom and dad plan a menu, shop for food items, and bring them back home. The caregiver can then help your parents cook meals or cook them for them. Learn more by contacting your local home care agency.

If you or an aging loved one needs home care in Granite Bay, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.

Sources:

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/Sugar-101_UCM_306024_Article.jsp#

http://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/the-growing-concern-of-overconsumption/#.WkPBF9-nGM8

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-too-much-added-sugar-increases-the-risk-of-dying-with-heart-disease-201402067021

http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2003460

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Jay Bloodsworth

Owner at A Better Living Home Care

I started A Better Living Home Care Agency after seeing the impersonal and inconsistent service of large home care companies and franchises in the Greater Sacramento Area. I know, because I once worked for one. I left to put the “personal” back into home care.

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