(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
TALKING about sugar, here’s something new.
The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and drinks in the United States has been updated to include a New Nutrition Facts Label
The idea is to make it easier for consumers to make informed choices.
The new label makes the distinction between added sugars and total sugars.
Total Sugars include sugars naturally present in many nutritious foods and beverages, such as sugar in milk and fruits as well as any added sugars that may be present in the product.
There is no Daily Value for total sugars because no recommendation has been made for the total amount to eat in a day.
(The Daily Values are reference amounts in grams, milligrams, or micrograms of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day. The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.)
Added sugars, on the other hand, include sugars that are added during the processing of foods (such as sucrose or dextrose), foods packaged as sweeteners (such as table sugar), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices.
Added sugars do not include naturally occurring sugars that are found in milk, fruits, and vegetables.
For most Americans, the main sources of added sugars are sugar-sweetened beverages, baked goods, desserts, and sweets.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day. For example, if you consume a 2,000-calorie daily diet, that would be 200 calories or 50 grams of added sugars per day.
Consuming too much added sugars can make it difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is including added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label so that American consumers make informed choices, based on your individual needs and preferences.
(It’s not a bad idea to consider the information here in the Philippines.)
In the U.S., labels for foods and beverages with added sugars will list the number of grams and the percent Daily Value (%DV) for added sugars within the Nutrition Facts label.
Having the word “includes” before added sugars on the label indicates that added sugars are included in the number of grams of total sugars in the product.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that a limited amount of added sugars can be included as part of an overall healthy eating pattern that includes healthy choices from each of the food groups such as vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and protein foods.
It is important to remember that added sugars is just one piece of information on the label. Looking at the ingredient list and reading all the information on the Nutrition Facts label can help you make the most informed choices.
We dwell on sugar here because sugar may cause tooth decay and gum diseases.
Sugar creates acids that erode the teeth enamel. Sugar also attracts bacteria that cause gingivitis and gum disease that can cause the gums to recede away from the teeth and destroy the protective tissues that hold the teeth in place.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
