Sugary foods tend to be high in calories instead of nutrients. For a healthier diet, choose foods and beverages with little added sugar.
Sugar also increases the risk for tooth decay. Bacteria in your mouth convert all foods-but especially sugar-into acids. These acids create holes in the tooth called cavities.
Sweets, desserts, nondiet soft drinks, and sweetened fruit drinks are all major culprits. But sugar also lurks in yogurt, bread and other foods.
To limit sweeteners, read food Nutrition Facts labels carefully. There are many names for added sugar. Look for it listed as:
Sugar ─ under any of its names ─ will appear near the top of the ingredients lists of foods that have lots of added sugar. Compare labels and look for foods that don't use added sugar or those that include it further down in their ingredients lists.
Sources include: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Agriculture; American Dietetic Association