Drinking just one sugary drink each day can put you over the daily recommended limit for added sugars. This does not include the sugar that we consume through other foods. We wouldn’t eat that much sugar, so why drink it?
On food and beverage labels, sugar is usually listed in grams.
- 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon or one packet of sugar
A typical 12-ounce can of soda contains about 39 grams of sugar or more than 9 teaspoons of sugar. Some flavored sodas contain as much as 46 grams or about 11 teaspoons of sugar.
Here are some other numbers:
- The average 8-ounce bottle of energy drink has about 27 grams or 7 teaspoons of sugar.
- The average 16-ounce vitamin water has about 26 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar.
- A 20-ounce bottle of sports drink has about 34 grams or 8 teaspoons of sugar.
- A 10-ounce bottle of juice drink or fruit punch (not 100% fruit juice) has about 40 grams or 10 teaspoons of sugar.
While we have reduced our consumption of soda, we have increased our intake of sports drinks, energy drinks, vitamin-enhanced water, and other flavored waters.
These drinks are marketed as healthier. However, they often contain excessive amounts of sugar and contribute to all the same health conditions associated with drinking soda. Most active people can replenish the nutrients lost when exercising by drinking plenty of water and eating a well-balanced diet that contains a variety of fruits and vegetables.
