Sugar Science: Too Much Sweet in What We Eat

Americans are consuming more sugar than ever before. But what effect is this sweet trend having on our health?

It’s in our favorite foods and drinks. How much sugar do you put down in a day?

Laura Schmidt, PhD, a professor at University of California San Francisco, says Americans consume nearly three times more sugar than is recommended, which is more than we ever have.

“So, currently we’re consuming about twice as much as we did say in 1970,” she told Ivanhoe.

Schmidt and scientists from around the country have launched “Sugar Science,” an initiative to educate people about how sugar impacts health. It’s based on more than 8,000 studies.

“It’s all about getting what we know in the medical journals out to the public,” Schmidt said. Submit

Too much added sugar is linked to heart disease in adults and diabetes in kids. 20 years ago, type two diabetes was almost unheard of in children. Today, more than 20,000 have it.

“It’s completely unacceptable that a child would have adult onset diabetes at the age of 13,” Dean Schillinger, MD, a professor at University of California San Francisco told Ivanhoe.

Too much sugar can also impact the liver and can cause the same disease that alcohol does. Nearly 31 percent of adults and 13 percent of kids now have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

“This is something, a condition that we didn’t even have diagnosis for 30 years ago before the American public started consuming so much sugar,” Schmidt said.

Scientists recommend women consume no more than six teaspoons, or 25 grams, of added sugar a day. For men, it’s nine teaspoons, or 38 grams. Sodas, sports drinks and energy drinks make up 37 percent of added sugar consumed in the US. Just one can of soda a day is more than the recommended limit for women.

The bottom line? Ditch those sugary drinks and snacks for a better, healthier you.

Schmidt says not to worry about natural sugars from fruits and vegetables, as these are healthy. Their research is focused on added sugars. For more information, log onto sugarscience.org. The site lets you ask a question about sugar, and a team of researchers will respond to it.

Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Hitchcock, Field Producer; Kim Groves, Supporting Producer; Rusty Reed, Videographer and Jamie Koczan, Editor.