Going GAGA over Sugar...

Yes, it was the Pepsi Zero Sugar Halftime Show, but according to a 2016 survey we're still going gaga over sugar.

Healthline.com surveyed  more than 3,000 Americans from across the country to ask them what they know about sugar and how it affects the body. About half of those surveyed said it's hard to know how much sugar they're eating. Two out of three guessed wrong on how much sugar is in popular foods. Seventy percent don't know how many grams are in a teaspoon of sugar, nor the calorie equivalent. What's more is that nearly half feel guilty about eating too much sugar, and one third of the survey respondents want to cut back. The problem is that they don't know how, and nutrition labels don't include a little thing called added sugars on their labels. What you don't know can't hurt you, right? Think again.

Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Added sugars can add calories to the diet which can lead to extra pounds, or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health. Additionally, many consumers confuse yogurts and energy bars as healthier choices, but it's important to check the label to see how much sugar may be in it. The takeaway? Your relationship with sugar isn't healthy, it's really a bad romance. Find helpful ways to cut your sugar here and here.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, there are about 4 grams of sugar in a teaspoon -- and each teaspoon of sugar has about 16 calories.

Why this matters ...

• A 2014 study published in JAMA: Internal Medicine showed added sugar was associated with a higher risk of dying from heart disease.
• People who consumed about 17 to 21 percent of calories from added sugar had an estimated 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed fewer than 7.5 percent of their calories from added sugar.
• The risk was double for those who consumed more than 25 percent of their calories from added sugar.
• Last week, the CDC released a report  stating that more than half of men and nearly half of women age 20 or over, reported drinking at least one sugary beverage a day.

Follow the link to learn more about how you can Rethink Your Drink: https://bit.ly/2keSGj3