I was more than a little shocked to learn that the recommendations for limiting daily sugar intake have recently shifted. In a recent issue of the journal Circulation, the authors of “Dietary Sugars Intake and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association" discuss that over the past three decades, the American public's total caloric intake has increased by up to 300 calories/day, with more than half of those extra calories represented by sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks. The newly recommended upper daily limit for sugar intake is 80 calories/day (5 teaspoons of sugar) for the average adult woman, and 144 calories/day (9 teaspoons of sugar) for the average adult man.
Let’s think about it — a can of cola contains roughly 130 calories, the equivalent of 8 teaspoons of sugar, which is well over my new limit — it’s a good thing I prefer diet soft drinks. But that forces me to choose between consuming a dozen strawberries, 24 plain M&Ms, or 4 ounces (less than 3 shot glasses-full!) of white wine each day. What’s a stressed PT supposed to do?
I know that it’s all to the good, and that as a society we are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and social ostracism for obesity, but the new recommendations have certainly made this PT stop and think.
How will you choose to spend your daily sugar allowance?
Anne Ahlman, MPT
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