27 Top Ways to Cut Sugar and Boost Your Health

When an orange — or any fruit — is processed into juice, much of its healthy nutrients are lost and are replaced by sugar. In addition, juices don’t have the same levels of fiber that fruits do. Fiber can help reduce blood pressure and inflammation and control blood sugar levels.

Energy drinks are notorious for their caffeine content. Some people also focus on how many calories they have. The amount of sugar in those drinks also shouldn’t be ignored. For example, just one can of Red Bull contains 37 g of sugar — or about 9 teaspoons of sugar — more than the recommended amount of sugar in a day. The American Heart Association recommends about 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons per day for men.

There are ways to get your sweet tooth fix without consuming any amount of refined sugar. Try adding some naturally sweet spices — like nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon — to your drink, coffee, or tea.

Many tomato sauces are sweet because of the natural sugars in tomatoes. Still, some companies add sugar to their products. Read the labels and recognize any sources of added sugar, a common one being high fructose corn syrup.

Many people are afraid of the word “fat,” but they shouldn’t be. Healthy fats, such as those in full-fat dairy, fish, and nuts, have many nutritional benefits, like reducing cravings for simple carbs found in sweet foods like candy and cereal.