Over 17% of the American diet consists of refined sugar. Although you might not think you eat a lot of refined sugar because you’re not consuming it directly. Most refined sugar is hidden in many of the foods/products we eat and drink on a regular basis. Disguised under names such as sucrose, maltodextrine, and brown rice syrup, refined sugars are easy to miss and easily add up in your daily diet. The infographic below states, “The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar every day.” The human body is designed to have no more than 1 teaspoon or 4 grams per meal/snack. This HUGE difference is one of the reasons why obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases are on the rise. Refined sugars increase inflammation, contribute to weight gain, promote mucous and congestion and much more.

Check out these 14 alarming facts about sugar:

1. The average American consumes over 22 teaspoons of sugar per day (The average child consumes a whopping 32 teaspoons every day!)

2. Refined sugar is linked to (Insomnia, dizziness, hair loss, allergies, manic depression, breakouts, tooth decay, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, colon and pancreatic cancer, Type 2 diabetes )

3, Sugar is addictive releasing an opiate-like substance that activates the brain’s reward system.

4. In 1900 the U.S. consumed about 5 lbs of sugar per person. In 2000 the U.S. consumed about 150 lbs of sugar per person.

5. Americans drink 53 gallons of soft drink per person every year. The average can of soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar.

6. In the past decade sugar consumption jumped 23%.

7. In the American diet, added sugar alone accounts for 496 calories every day.

8. Consuming refined sugar depletes the body of B vitamins.

9. Many foods contain hidden sugar (Hotdogs, ketchup, hamburger buns, peanut butter, pasta sauce, salad dressing, mayonaise, french fries and more)

10. Refined sugar has no nutritional value.

11. Despite the additional calories research shows that animals live longer on just water, rather than water and sugar solution.

12. Sugar inhibits blood flow and affects aging.

13. Suddenly removing sugar from a diet can cause fatigue, depression and headaches.

14. Besides salt, Americans consume 10 times more sugar than any additive.

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