1. Are You
TOO
Sweet?
By ClaireTousley
Hamilton County Health Department

2. Objectives
▪ Understand 3 effects of natural and artificial sugars on
the body
▪ Identify 3 popular drinks that are high in added sugar
▪ Identify 3 healthier alternatives to food with high added
sugar

3. What Is Sugar?
▪ A type of carbohydrate
▪ Fuel for the body
▪ Can be broken down in to groups and subgroups

4. Why Do People Like Sugar So Much?
▪ FAST energy
▪ Blood sugar spike
▪ ….blood sugar crash

5. Why Do People Like Sugar So Much? Cont.
▪ Emotions

6. Why Do People Like Sugar So Much? Cont.
▪ Helps us build fat stores ▪ Hormones

7. What Does Our Body Do With Sugar?
▪ It’s absolutely necessary for our bodies to function!
▪ Brain fuel
▪ Immediate energy for the body
▪ Helps make insulin
▪ So…what’s the problem?

8. How Does Too Much Sugar Affect Health?
▪ Makes people eat too much
▪ Contributes to obesity
– One 8 oz. soda/day increases risk of obesity by 60%
– One 20 oz. Soda/day can result in gaining 25 lbs./year
▪ Makes it hard to form memories, learn,
and remember
▪ Can lead to heart disease, high blood
pressure, cavities, andType 2 Diabetes
– Sugary drinks may contribute to 25,000 deaths in the US

9. It’s All…
A Balancing Act!

10. How Much Sugar Should People Get?
▪ Adult men: 36 grams or 9
teaspoons a day
▪ Adult women: 24 grams or
5 teaspoons a day
▪ Teens: No more than 5-8
teaspoons
▪ How many teaspoons a
day do you think teens
REALLY get?

11. Hiding in Plain Sight: Other Names for
Sugar
▪ High fructose corn
syrup
▪ Sucrose
▪ Raw sugar
▪ Malt syrup
▪ Molasses
▪ Turbinado sugar
▪ Corn sugar
▪ Fructose
▪ Glucose
▪ Honey
▪ Dextrose
▪ Beet sugar
▪ Sorbitol

12. In the News: Chobani Greek Yogurt
▪ Just call it sugar!

13. Let’s Play a Game!
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14. Now…How Much Sugar is REALLY in Those
Drinks?

16. What Are Sugar Free and Diet
Drinks/Food?
Sugar Free
▪ Have teeny-tiny amounts of
sugar in them OR none at all
▪ Generally have artificial
sweeteners
▪ Sugar free DRINKS tend to be
low in calories
Diet
▪ Very similar to sugar-free

17. Sweeteners
Artifical Sweeteners
▪ Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
▪ Acesulfame potassium
(SweetOne, Sunnet)
▪ Neotame
▪ Saccharine (Sweet ‘n Low)
▪ Sucralose (Splenda)
▪ Sugar alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol)
Natural Sweeteners
▪ Sugar
▪ Stevia/Rebiana
▪ Agave nectar
▪ Honey
▪ High fructose Corn Syrup
▪ Cane syrup
▪ Monk fruit extract

18. Are Artificial Sweeteners Any Better
Than Sugar?
Pros:
 Low in calories
 High in sweetness
 Generally* don’t raise blood
sugar
 Intensive safety studies
Cons:
▪ Can mess with gut bacteria
▪ Dangerous for people with PKU
▪ Xylitol is poisonous to dogs
▪ May not satisfy sweet cravings
▪ Conflicting studies

19. Sugar Free and Diet Drinks
▪ Great way to lower risk of cavities
▪ Can still damage teeth
▪ Can cause stomach upset

20. What Should You Drink Instead?
▪ Water
▪ Milk
▪ Fruit infused water
▪ Herbal teas
▪ Low calorie drinks
▪ Just cut back on sugary
drinks!

21. How Can You Make Smart and Healthy
Choices?
▪ Pay attention to labeling-
don’t be fooled by tricky
terminology!
▪ “Sugar Free” does not
always mean healthy
▪ Brush those teeth
▪ Stick to 100% fruit juices and
vegetable juices
▪ Limit white breads, pastas,
and rice
▪ Eat more whole grains and
vegetables

22. Any Questions?