The day I realized 'no sugar added' doesn't mean sugar-free

I always grabbed fruit juices with 'no sugar added' labels, thinking they were the best choice. After feeling bloated, I checked the nutrition facts and saw high carbohydrate counts. A quick search taught me that 'no sugar added' only means no extra sugar was put in during processing. The natural sugars from the fruit are still there, so total sugar can be just as high. Now I ignore the front label and look straight at the total sugars per serving. I compare different juices and pick ones with lower numbers. This simple habit has helped me cut down on sweet drinks without guessing. Food labels should be clearer so people aren't tricked by tricky wording.

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_sullivan972mo ago

You mentioning "no sugar added" labels on fruit juices hits home. I did the same thing, always choosing those bottles thinking they were the better option. Learning about natural sugars in stuff like orange juice or apple juice was a wake-up call. Now I skip the front label and go straight to the nutrition facts for total sugar. It made me switch to just drinking water most of the time. Those marketing phrases really do trick you if you don't know better.

morganbailey2mo ago

I saw a carton of orange juice yesterday with 22 grams of total sugar per serving, all from fruit. @jenny_sullivan97, when you check the nutrition label now, is there a specific sugar gram number that makes you put something back, or do you just avoid juice altogether?

juliah231mo ago

That 22 grams is just from the fruit itself, no added sugar. I don't avoid juice completely. A small glass of real orange juice with breakfast is different than soda. @jenny_sullivan97, I get checking the label, but I look at the whole picture. It gives me vitamin C and potassium. I'd rather have that some mornings than a super sugary coffee drink.