News 4 is going #SugarFree!
We'll be kicking off this challenge Monday and will be documenting our experiences throughout the week. The goal? No more than 40 grams of sugar per day, which is roughly 10 to 12 teaspoons.
That includes monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook or consumer. It also includes sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates.
But we're not getting too extreme about this: whole fruit with fiber is ok. (Those are the guidelines given to us by endocrinologist Nicole Ehrhardt of the GW Medical Faculty Associates.)
Added sugar has been blamed for obesity, diabetes, mood changes, and blood pressure or cholesterol problems. A book published late last year -- "The Case Against Sugar" by Gary Taubes -- called sugar the "tobacco of the new millennium."
While some of those claims have been disputed, we're sure we are eating too much added sugar. After all, sugar can be found in surprising places, such as condiments, bread and packaged foods -- spiking our intake.
The News 4 team will be monitoring our overall moods, sugar intake and any weight loss.
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Follow along throughout the week to see how everyone is doing!
Think you're up for the challenge? Participate in #SugarFree Week with us and let us know about your experience on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
