Heart Smart Minute Nutrition . . .
Sugar Breakdown:
Sugar is the single largest source of calories for Americans. A 2009 study determined that 50% of Americans consume 1/2 pound a day of sugar…that’s 180lbs a year!
Companies are now using sugar in nearly everything from lunch meats to baby formula, and the majority of sugar being used is the incredibly cheap High Fructose Corn Syrup (processed from corn).
Your Heart Smart Minute fitness plan is key to building strong muscles but the other half of the equation is a strong nutrition plan–you may be eating much more sugar than you think!
Heart Smart Minute Nutrition Tip: Where is Sugar?
Here are the top 5 food items loaded with sugar:
Soft Drinks
Fruit Juice
Sports Drinks
Infant Formula (as much as a soda! Kids are being addicted early)
Processed Foods (lunch meat, breads, ready made meals)
Heart Smart Minute Nutrition Tip: The 5 major sugar players
Sugar Alcohol “Sweeteners” (Xylitol, Glycerol, Sorbitol): Provide fewer calories because they are not completely absorbed in the small intestine but cause bloating, diarrhea, and IBS. There are much better options for your Heart Smart Minute Nutrition plan, such as Stevia.
Sucralose “Splenda”: This is not in any form real sugar. It is a chlorinated artificial sweetener with zero nutritional benefits–a definite No No for your Heart Smart Minute Nutrition plan.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: Extremely popular because it is easily processed from corn and very cheap for manufacturers. Found in diet drinks, snacks, ice cream and baby formula. AVOID FRUCTOSE. This is the bad sugar which is responsible for weight gain and metabolism breakdown.
Agave Syrup/Honey: There is a BIG difference between Agave syrup and Honey. Agave Syrup (syrup is the key word), is not natural and is highly processed leaving it as far away from the agave plant as possible. Honey in it’s RAW form is 100% natural and is fine to use in moderation and actually provides antioxidants, but make sure it’s Raw Honey…there is a difference.
Stevia: A sweet herb from South America, fine for use in moderation in your Heart Smart Minute Nutrition plan.
Heart Smart Minute Nutrition Tip: WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH FRUIT??
Should you or should you not eat fruit? Well, I’ve yet to meet a person who told me they got fat from eating fruit, but here’s the deal…Fruit does contain fructose, however it also contains a high level of nutrition benefits such as vitamins and antioxidants which counteract the affects of the fructose. Limit your fructose intake to 25g at most per day. You most likely are not eating enough fruit to do yourself harm or hurt your weight loss efforts. However, NEVER drink fruit juice. A glass of fruit juice is loaded with fructose and the healthy antioxidants are lost.
