Editor’s note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life’s mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here.
Halloween is almost here! People are thinking about costumes, pumpkins, spooky decorations, and, of course, candy. Who doesn’t enjoy munching on chocolates, lollipops, and candy corn all day? But eating sugary treats all the time isn’t healthy. Americans consume too much added sugar every day, which can lead to health problems like weight gain and diabetes.
Reducing sugar intake is important, but it can be hard because sugar is in many foods, from sodas to breakfast cereals. Food companies use sugar, fat, and salt to make their products more appealing. Dr. Laura Schmidt suggests avoiding sugary drinks, reducing sugar cues in your environment, and planning to deal with sugar cravings. Making desserts at home can help control sugar intake too.
We hope these tips help you manage your sugar consumption. Listen to the full podcast episode here. Join us next week on Chasing Life as we discuss the art of compromise.
Vocabulary List:
- Consumption /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ (noun): The act of using up a resource or the amount used.
- Cues /kjuːz/ (noun): Signals or prompts that stimulate a particular response or behavior.
- Appealing /əˈpiːlɪŋ/ (adjective): Attractive or interesting; having a quality that draws attention.
- Intake /ˈɪn.teɪk/ (noun): The amount of something that is taken in such as food or drink.
- Reducing /rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ/ (verb): Making something smaller or less in amount degree or size.
- Cravings /ˈkreɪvɪŋz/ (noun): Intense desires or urges for a particular substance or food.
How much do you know?
