(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
TALKING of sugar last time, it’s relatively easy to get rid of our love for sweets.
The first step is to know that words with “ose” mean sugar. Like in sucrose, fructose and maltose.
These are the “added sugar” required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be put on the labels of packaged foods sold in the United States starting in 2018.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a maximum amount of added sugars at 150 calories per day – that’s about 9 teaspoons.
Not much, you might say. However, in the many instances that we don’t measure, or don’t take notice of food labels, sugar adds up. As in the sugar and the added sugar found in pastries, cakes, chips, soups and sauces like in spaghetti sauce. Even ketchups have sugar.
And especially soft drinks and colas. The U.S. National Institutes of Health reckons that soft drinks are the third largest sources of food calories and one of the biggest sources of sugar in the American diet.
One 12-ounce can of soda contains a lot of sugar, all 52 grams of it or almost double the daily maximum outlined by AHA.
Sugar is present in our diets almost from the very start of the day. That is, during breakfast, starting with bread and jams, pan de sal and condensed milk, sweetened coffee, hot chocolate and cold juice.
Fruits are not to be taken for granted. They contain a lot of sugar. Although they may not be that much, they add up.
A salad at lunch may not exactly be sugar-free. If you pour all that dressing with all that sugar. Even the low-fat or light versions. Good, old-fashioned vinegar dressings are best, if you ask me.
Here’s one of the best way to avoid sugar in drinks: take water instead. The unsweetened version, take note.
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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
