Research is starting to show a clear link between increased sugar consumption and poor health outcomes such as being overweight, obesity, and developing diabetes. The recommendation is that no more than 10 percent of daily calories should come from sugar. On average, almost 20 percent of the calories in a typical American adult’s diet comes from sugar and sweeteners, with the most common sources being beverages, snacks, and sweets. In addition, the arrival of several non-nutritive sweeteners combined with the more than 60 sweeteners used on food labels makes it difficult to understand how to reduce sugar in the diet.

In response to this challenge, the Jessamine County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent traveled to eight counties to present Sweet Enough Without All That Sugar for the Fort Harrod Extension Homemakers. Emphasis was placed on understanding the different types of sugar available, the role of sugar and sweeteners in health, and ways to reduce sugar in the diet. A total of 31 (28 females and 2 males) participated in the workshop.

Of those surveyed, 65 percent indicated they increased their understanding of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners. 78 percent better understand what added sugars are and 87 percent learned the effects of sugar and sweeteners on health. Further, 87 percent increased their understanding of how to reduce sugar in the diet. 100 percent plan to look at food labels for nutrition fact panels when making buying decisions, whereas 96 percent plan to reduce the overall amount of sugar in their daily diet to improve their health.