Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
10/21/99
Contacts:
Elisabeth Schafer, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515)
294-1359
Diane Nelson, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-3178
America's Sweet Tooth Getting Sweeter
AMES, Iowa -- Care to guess how much sugar Americans eat in a year? Would you guess two pounds per person? Five pounds? Twenty pounds?
"Per person consumption of sugar has been steadily increasing," said Elisabeth Schafer, Iowa State University Extension nutritionist. "Today's average is 156 pounds per person per year. That's 15 ten-pound bags of sugar for each man, woman and child."
One-third of this total comes in the form of soft drinks. Other major sources of sugar in the American diet include fruit juices, candy, cake, ice cream, cereals, cookies and brownies.
"Sugar" is defined as added caloric sweeteners -- such as sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup and honey. Statistics do not include lactose or fructose that occurs naturally in dairy products and fruits.
Although the average rate of sugar consumption in the United State is increasing annually, many people are unaware of the effects it can have on their health.
Dr. Susan Krebs-Smith of the National Cancer Institute recommends getting 6 to 10 percent of energy from sugar, or allowing one teaspoon of sugar for every 100 kcal beyond 1000 kcal. However, most Americans consume 100-270 kcals of sugar more than this guideline.
Studies have linked high sugar consumption with health problems such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis and even some types of cancer. The main problem with sugar isn't that it directly causes health problems, but that it is substituted for foods that are healthful and necessary to a balanced diet.
"One of the best things we can do to combat rising sugar intake is to simply reach for a piece of fruit rather than a candy bar, or drink water instead of soda," said Schafer.
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