x
Breaking News
More () »

How hidden sugar is sneaking into your diet in foods you'd never expect

There are more than 60 different names for sugar on the list of ingredients that you probably never realized.

CLEVELAND — If you've made it through the first week of the year sticking to your New Year's diet, you may be shocked to know that sugar can be hiding out in some of your favorite foods.

Registered dietitian Melanie Jatsek warns that there are some common sources of sugar that can be sneaking into your diet.

“Did you know that there are over 60 different names for sugar?” Jatsek asked. “Words like high fructose corn syrup, honey, maltose, barley malt and cane juice are just fancy names for sugar.”

She said some of these don’t even taste sweet, so it’s a quite a surprise to realize you’re eating added sugar.

RELATED: These are the 5 'junk' ingredients you should look for on food labels

Common products with added sugar are beef jerky, marinara sauce and bacon. In fact, jarred marinara sauce can contain two teaspoons of sugar per serving.

“Who would have thought bread? Don’t be fooled by the front of the package,” Jatsek says. “There can be one teaspoon of sugar in a common slice of bread.”

Even natural peanut butter can have added sugar, so read the ingredients closely to see what’s making its way into your food.

A major culprit is nutrition bars. Some of them contain up to five teaspoons of sugar. Jatsek advises choosing a nutrition bar without added sugar.

“A really popular source of added sugar is drinks like Boost,” she said. “So instead, aim for a protein powder that’s naturally flavored with vitamins and minerals and add it to some almond milk.”

Jatsek is also the author of Missing Peace: Eleven Secrets to Restore Inner Harmony With Your Food, Body, and Health.

Before You Leave, Check This Out