If you’re like millions of Americans, you probably don’t think much about the amount of added sugar you drink on a daily basis. The average American consumes a staggering 39 pounds of sugar per year drinking sodas, coffee drinks, sports and energy drinks, smoothies (gasp!) and other sugar-sweetened beverages. That’s a lot of sugar!
We’ll be the first to admit that sweet drinks taste really good, but they aren’t good for your health. Here are a few reasons why.
- They add a lot of extra calories to your diet.
- Extra calories can lead to extra weight, and obesity is a risk factor for a number of serious medical conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.
- Sugar contributes to tooth decay.
Current dietary guidelines recommend no more than 10 percent of your daily calories come from added sugar. So, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, only 200 calories should come from added sugar. When you consider one 12-ounce can of soda is around 160 calories, you can see how quickly sugar from drinks adds up!
Can you reduce your sugary drink habit to meet the guidelines? Now is the perfect time to try during our Rethink Your Drink challenge!
