The average american consumes 88 grams a day of sugar. This comes to a total of 71 lbs of sugar per year. With each passing year there is more a more sugar being added to our processed foods.
The American Heart Association has advised that we consume no more than 16 lbs of sugar a year for women and 29lbs for men. They have found that sugar is the most likely cause of the growing epidemic of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated triglyceride levels. Moderation in life tends to be the key to having a healthy balanced life.
If you would like to decrease your sugar intake the number one thing you can do is stop eating processed foods(which is the number one place we pick up our extra sugar). I know this is difficult for most people so if you must eat processed foods the best way is to read the ingredients label. Now you most likely wont see the word sugar anywhere on this label. This is because sugar has many names that better define the types of sugar it is. So look for these words instead: Dextrose, Maltose, Sucrose, Fructose, Glucose, Lactose, or the most popular High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). If any of these are in the top 4 ingredients on the label you should look for a healthier alternative.
By decreasing your intake of sugars in your diet you will not only be decreasing your risk or those diseases listed earlier. You will most likely find that your energy levels will increase due to your metabolism functioning properly.
I wish you all a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
Great post!