Limit SUGAR
In general it is important to limit sugar intake. Reasons to limit your intake of sugar include:
- Avoid unnecessary EMPTY calories
- Reduce your risk of dumping syndrome
Choose products that are labeled “sugar-free.” They will have less than ½ gram of sugar per serving.
- Choose beverages with <5 grams of added sugar
- Choose solid foods with <15 grams of added sugar
Limits on added sugars per day for health:
- Men: 9 teaspoons (45 grams sugar)
- Women: 6 teaspoons (30 grams sugar)
Read Food Labels and Ingredient Lists
Ingredients are always listed from most to least by weight in the product. Avoid products that have sugar listed in the first 5 ingredients.
Other names for sugar:
|
Corn Syrup |
Molasses |
Dextrose |
Granulated Sugar |
|
High Fructose Corn Syrup |
Honey |
Fructose |
Confectioner’s Sugar |
|
Corn Sweetener |
Syrup |
Glucose |
Raw Sugar |
|
Turbinado |
Levulose |
Sucrose |
Brown Sugar |
Avoid Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols can cause gas and diarrhea and are not well tolerated. These are often referred to as “Sugar Replacers.”
|
Sorbitol |
Xylitol |
Mannitol |
Maltitol |
|
Lactitol |
Erythritol |
Isomalt |
Artificial Sweeteners (Sugar Substitutes) are Permitted
Examples of artificial sweeteners:
|
Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Acceptable Daily Intake |
Mg/packet |
|
Aspartame |
NurtaSweet®, Equal® |
40 mg/kg |
40 |
|
Saccharin |
Sweet’n Low® |
5 mg/kg |
40 |
|
Sucralose |
Splenda® |
15 mg/kg |
11 |
|
Stevia |
Herbal Sweetener |
4 mg/kg |
9 |
|
Acesulfame – K |
Acesulfame Potassium |
15 mg/kg |
50 |
Information from NonNutritive Sweeteners:Current Use and Health Perspectives, A Scientific Statement from the AHA and the ADA