The world’s #1 food and nutrition tracking app sheds light on sugar consumption and reveals hidden sugars in foods around the world
NEW YORK, February 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — MyFitnessPalthe all-in-one nutrition and fitness tracking app encourages people to give up sweets and improve their heart health while running Less sweet, more heart campaign for the month of February for heart health. In four of the five largest sugar producing countries – Australia, CanadaUK & US – MyFitnessPal marks global focus on heart health with giant heart-shaped sugar structures in major cities including Sydney, Toronto, London and Miami. Knowing that more than 50% of people surveyed worldwide said they want to reduce their sugar consumption, MyFitnessPal also shares low-sugar recipes, meal ideas and simple sugar swaps, now available in the free app .
“Even those of us who don’t think we have a sweet tooth would be surprised at how much sugar we consume. Many of the foods we enjoy every day have a surprising amount of hidden sugar,” he explains Tricia Khan, CEO of MyFitnessPal. “Tracking is a great way to better understand how much sugar is in the foods you eat, and we’re sharing some simple swaps and ideas that can help you keep that amount within the recommended healthy range.”
According to the American Heart Association, the average American adult consumes 77 grams of sugar per day, which is nearly three times the recommended amount. Much of this comes from food that contains hidden sugar, including those foods regularly touted as “healthy,” such as flavored yogurts and oatmeal. To add to the confusion, there are about 50 different names for sugar and sweeteners that can be found on nutrition labels. To take the guesswork out of the equation, food tracking with the free MyFitnessPal app will provide an accurate snapshot of your daily sugar intake along with longer-term trends.
Other ways MyFitnessPal is improving heart health this month:
Smart sugar swaps
MyFitnessPal nutritionists and nutritionists have created a list of easy and quick daily sugar swaps that can be easily implemented and ultimately lead to big health changes (check out #MFPSugarSwaps for even more inspiration).
- Swap the flavored yogurt for plain Greek yogurt topped with a teaspoon of honey and fresh fruit. Not only is the sugar reduced, but the fiber and protein are increased. If eaten every day, this swap could potentially save 14,600 calories, or four pounds, over a year.
- Choose regular rolled or steel rolled oats over flavored oatmeal. Jazz up this breakfast staple with spices like cinnamon and fresh fruit like sliced apples. If eaten every day, this swap could potentially save 16,060 calories, or four and a half pounds, over a year.
- Snacks can contain a lot of added sugar. Some snack bars contain up to 14 grams of added sugar, which equates to 3.5 sugar cubes. Try replacing this on-the-go fuel with brands that advertise no added sugar. This swap can potentially save up to 20,440 calories, or six pounds, in a year.
Smart sugar research
MyFitnessPal recently surveyed over 4,300 people in four countries and made some surprising findings, including:
- Over 50% of people surveyed say sugar is the number one thing they’re trying to eat less of
- Over a third of those surveyed said they had no idea how many calories are in a teaspoon of sugar, in fact, only 20% of Americans answered correctly: a teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories.
People can test their own Sugar Smarts with an eye-opener online quiz, visit the MyFitnessPal app to learn more about the Less Sweet, More Heart campaign and find inspiration for low-sugar meals and simple sugar swaps to try this month. The free app is also available for download via App Store and Google Play.
About MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is the #1 global nutrition and food tracking app to meet health goals. Since 2005, MyFitnessPal has enabled over 200 million users in over 120 countries to log food intake, record exercise activity and weight, track health habits, and achieve their health and fitness goals. As one of the world’s most trusted and leading nutrition resources, MyFitnessPal’s mission is to drive powerful change in nutrition and health for members by empowering them to succeed on their own terms through personalized insights, guidance and unwavering support based on data. With one of the largest food databases in the world, featuring over 14 million foods, access to over 500 recipes, over 150 workout routines, 200 exercise demos and over 35 connected fitness partners, MyFitnessPal provides users with tools for positive health change . The MyFitnessPal app is available at App Store and Google Play shop. To learn more, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or follow MyFitnessPal at Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.
SOURCE MyFitnessPal