Sugar truth in your beverage choices

Sarah Johnson, Michigan State University Extension -

Take a closer look at how much sugar is in your favorite beverage by trying this experiment.

Did you know that a bottle of A&W root beer contains 64 grams of sugar? That may not seem like much until you take a closer look. Paying attention to how much sugar is in your favorite beverages may help you switch to drinking more water.

The human body is made of 70 percent water. The brain is made up of 80 percent water. This means that your brain and body do not function at peak performance when you’re thirsty. Yes, a soda maybe be the first thing you grab, but is it the best choice? Some may say, “But there’s water in my pop.” That is correct, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice.

The best beverage choice is unflavored water. There are no sugars and no calories. Water is in your body and your body is craving pure water when you’re thirsty. Water can consumed plain from the tap, or you can naturally flavor your water with fruit or vegetables. Try adding cucumbers, mint, strawberries, apples, limes or lemons to your water for a flavor that’s natural.

Making the switch to water may be difficult. However, if you consider how much sugar is in your drink, which may entice you. Pop is a tasty treat, but it should be just that, a treat enjoyed once in a while. It may be helpful to see exactly how much sugar is in your drink by creating a visual for yourself. To determine the amount of sugar that is in your beverage look at the nutrition facts label and find the total “sugar grams.” Keep in mind that nutrition label may list grams by servings, so you may need to double or triple the grams for the total amount. A 16.9 ounce, one serving size bottle of A&W root beer contains 64 grams of sugar. To determine the number of teaspoons of sugar, divide the grams by four. In the root beer, there are 16 teaspoons of sugar. To create your visual, remove the label to have a clear visual, and spoon in the sugar by the teaspoon. You will then be able to clearly see how much sugar is in your drink.

Do you think you would be surprised? Michigan State University Extension challenges you to take a closer look at the amount of sugar in the beverages you drink. Should you be making better choices for a healthier body?

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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