Here's some help reading those nutrition labels.
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| | Aside from my friend Ryan, most people enjoy eating things that are sweet. Sugar is so enticing that food companies add it to processed foods that aren't necessarily meant to be sweet to keep us coming back for more. Sauces, dressings, breads — you name it! | | While eating a little added sugar isn't going to kill you, most of us eat far more than is recommended. One way to cut down on your sugar intake is to become familiar with nutrition labels and figure out how much sugar you're eating per day. To help us do that effectively, registered dietitian Kirsten Seele is here to make an important clarification. | | | | The more you know!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
March 12, 2024 • 3 min read | | | |  | | | Q: | On the nutrition label, what's the difference between "total sugars" and "added sugars," and do you add those for a sum total? | | | A: | Total sugars include both added sugar and naturally occurring sugars, so you don't add them together for a sum total. The main difference between total sugars and added sugars on the nutrition label is where that sugar comes from.
Let's use the example of flavored yogurt. Strawberry yogurt has some natural sugars from the yogurt and some added in the form of sugar. So, the "total sugars" number is a total of those two types of sugars. The added sugar is the amount added to the product. If you wanted to figure out the amount of natural sugar, you would need to subtract the added sugar from the total sugar.
Natural sugars are still sugar, but your body digests and absorbs them more slowly, which protects against blood sugar spikes. For this reason, there isn't a recommended amount of natural sugars you need to adhere to.
"Added sugars" on the nutrition label refers to sugars such as sucrose and high fructose corn syrup that were added during the processing of that product. These sugars are high in calories, contain zero nutrients, and put you at risk of blood sugar spikes. Soft drinks and baked goods are obvious examples of foods with added sugars, but all sorts of processed foods contain them. Think: sauces, condiments, breads, etc.
When calculating your daily added sugar intake (ICYMI: That's 37.5 grams for men and 25 grams for women), you only need to worry about "added sugars" on the nutrition label. And keep in mind, we don't need to meet this recommendation. We want to keep added sugars as low as possible. | | | | | Kirsten Seele, Registered Dietitian | | | Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) | | | | | Stay in the know | | | | | | |  | | Accu-Chek Blood Glucose Test Strips | | If you live with prediabetes or diabetes, your doctor may recommend that you check your blood sugar levels multiple times per day. Accu-Chek test strips are affordable, easy to use, and considered one of the most accurate brands available (according to a 2022 review by Healthline.) Also, heads-up: You can use your HSA and FSA dollars to buy these strips. | | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | Wellos is a sister brand of Healthline. | | | | Wellos provides health tracking, personalized insights, physician-backed resources, and so much more to help you achieve lasting results. Start your 14-day free trial now! | | | | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | | 💪 How to keep your bones strong through breast cancer treatment. Keeping up a healthy diet is an important part of the equation. | | 🥱 Common signs of a vitamin deficiency to look out for. The symptoms can affect all parts of your body. | | 💊 The 5 best probiotics to support weight loss. These picks are dietitian-approved! | | 🧑🦰 9 home remedies for an itchy scalp. These at-home options may not treat the root problem. | | | Thanks for reading, friends! If you've ever wanted a higher tolerance for spicy food, you're going to want to read our upcoming newsletter this Thursday. See you then! | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | vitamin D (the sunny kind). | | | | |
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