Most added sugar in diets come from food and not beverages

Most of the unneeded sugar in diets comes from food and not drinks, according to newly-released research.
It had previously been thought most people’s excess sugar intake had come from sugary drinks, but according to a study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported by the New York Times, most of the unnecessary intake in Americans’ diets come from food.
Nearly 70 per cent of the calories from added sugars come from foods, including processed foods such as jam, bread, cakes and ice cream.
Data also showed a difference between men and women in the amount of extra calories garnered by eating sugary foods, as 13.2 per cent of females consumed unneeded sugar, compared to just 12.7 per cent of males.
Despite this, the average number of daily calories consumed by people who drink sodas has increased by more than 100 per cent in the last 40 years.
According to the report the amount of sugar consumed by US adults is “still relatively high, given that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 recommendation is that no more than five per cent to 15 per cent of calories should come from solid fats and added sugars”.