It’s no secret that consuming too much sugar can result in a range of health issues, including inflammation and unwanted weight gain. For this reason, it’s always important to be careful about the foods you’re putting into your body. While there are many obvious sugar-laden options out there, such as breakfast pastries or your favorite candy, there are a few surprisingly high-sugar foods that may be sneaking their way into your diet without a second thought. In order to stay as healthy as possible, staying aware of these hidden sugars is crucial.
So, what are a few of the worst, most deceiving options out there? To find out, we spoke to nutritionist Mary Sabat. She told us that canned tomatoes and salad dressings are among the biggest offenders. Read on to learn more about these unassumingly unhealthy foods and their consequences.
1. Canned tomatoes
Whole vegetables are certainly healthy, so a can of veggies is likely one of the last places you'd expect an exorbitant amount of sugar to be. However, as it turns out, processed, canned vegetables can come with their fair share of health risks. And when it comes to tomatoes, in particular, they may be loaded with unexpected sweetener.
"Some canned tomato products, such as tomato sauces and tomato pastes, can contain added sugars like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)," Sabat warns. These added sugars increase the sweetness of the product but also contribute to calorie intake and potential health issues."
For this reason, it's always important to take a good look at the nutrition label. "When selecting canned tomato products look for options that have minimal or no added sugars," Sabat suggests. "Alternatively, you can choose canned tomatoes that are labeled as no sugar added or opt for fresh tomatoes and make your own sauces and pastes at home to have better control over the sugar content." Got it!
2. Salad dressings
When you think of a salad, you probably think of a healthy, veggie-packed meal that's perfect for weight loss. And while there are certainly plenty of healthy salad recipes out there to help you shed pounds, it's important to remember that adding the wrong ingredient to the mix could negate the health benefits altogether. As it turns out, a lot of salad dressings are loaded with unexpectedly high amounts of sugar.
"Many store-bought salad dressings contain added sugars, particularly the creamy or sweet varieties," Sabat warns. "These sugars can increase the calorie content of the dressing and contribute to weight gain. Additionally, excess sugar consumption has been linked to increased inflammation in the body." Yikes! That's why it's always important to read the nutrition label—or even to whip up your own dressing at home, so you have complete control over the ingredients. When in doubt, go with a vinaigrette for maximum benefits.
The bottom line
Ultimately, the best way to ensure you're keeping your sugar intake at a healthy level is to check the ingredient list of the foods you're consuming. "Check the ingredient list on packaged foods to identify hidden sugars," Sabat suggests. "Look for alternative names for sugar, such as corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, or maltose, and choose products with little to no added sugars," she concludes.
Choosing healthy whole foods and preparing your meals at home whenever possible is also a good rule to live by. When you make smart swaps and limit your intake of sneakily high-sugar foods like these, you'll be well on your way to a healthier body.
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