Defeating your sweet tooth isn’t an easy task. In fact most Americans get one fourth of their total caloric intake from sweets, such as candy, pastries, and soda.  This does not account for the sugar hidden in every-day foods like ketchup and pasta sauces.  To successfully manage your calories and boost your nutrition for a healthy weight loss, learning more about sugar intake and food sources is helpful.

Sugar Addiction:  Not all experts agree about how sugar is addictive. What we do know is that when you eat sugar, your brain releases neurotransmitters, known as opioids, which activate the brains pleasure receptors.  Drugs such as morphine have the same physiological effects.

Sugar Intake: Not sure how much sugar is part of your diet? Try writing down what you eat few days. It is recommended that you consume less than 15-25 grams per every 1,000 calories consumed.  Adjusting portion sizes and reducing the sugar in a recipe by ¼, are just a few ways to decrease the total sugar in your diet.

Mealtime: Eat regularly, every 3-4 hours will help to limit cravings for sugar that can result from hypoglycemia. 

Calories from sugary foods can add up quickly. Learn simple ways to control calories from sugar in your diet not only during the weight loss phase but also for long-term weight management.