For most of us, sugary foods represent those indulgent desserts that we treat ourselves to as a reward, a comfort when we're feeling down, or little guilty pleasure to get us through the week.
When we think sugar, we think cakes, cookies, or delicious fall time treats like pumpkin pie.
But the truth is, sugar is in almost everything we buy from the grocery store, and some of your favorite foods may be crammed with extra grams of it.
Sugar is alright in small doses, but too much of it can seriously hurt your health, by stressing out your liver, raising your cholesterol, and putting you at risk for diseases like diabetes.
It also has addictive properties, similar to caffeine and alcohol, which makes you subconsciously crave it and want to consume more.
In order to make sure you're not overdosing on the sweet stuff, its important to know which foods may be teaming with added sugar.
Below are a few foods that are secretly stocking up on extra sugar in order to taste amazing — check them out so you can start being more conscious of their secretly sugary nature.
#1: Barbeque Sauce: Six Grams Per Half Once
Barbeque sauce is so delicious, due in part to it's amazing sweet and savory taste.
But it's delectable flavor comes at a price — two tablespoons of sauce can have almost 10 grams of sugar!
For a less sugary substitute, try making your own rubs, or combine soy sauce with a low calorie sweetener.
#2: Granola Bars: 8 Grams Per Ounce
Granola bars are great because they are so portable — you can take them almost anywhere!
While they may look healthy and are super lunchbox friendly, granola bars can actually have as much sugar as a pumpkin spice latte according to Greatist.
Make sure that you look closely at the labels, and try to pick bars with less that eight grams of sugar.
#3: Dried Fruit: 16 Grams Per Ounce
Dried fruit is seriously so addicting — I could easily eat an entire bag of dried mango in one sitting.
But one of the reasons that it tastes so good is all of the extra sugar, according to Time Magazine a snack-sized box of raisons can have over 25 grams of sugar!
Keep this in mind the next time you reach for a bag, you don't have to stop eating them entirely, but know that they are not automatically healthy just because they are pieces of fruit.
#4: Salad Dressing: 2.6 Grams Per Half Ounce
Bottled salad dressing, like many processed foods, can be loaded with extra sugar and artificial flavors.
Ranch dressing, just like barbeque sauce, has a delightfully tangy taste that is due in part to all of the added sugar.
Make sure to read the label before buy your favorite brand — you can also check Eatingwell.com's list of healthy dressings.
#5: Soda: 3.25 Grams Per Ounce
Who doesn't love sipping a cold fizzy soda? There are very few things that are more satisfying than cracking up a cold can.
But one 20-ounce bottle of soda can have also 16 teaspoons of sugar, and the daily recommended sugar limit is five to nine teaspoons!
Be wary of drinking too much — excess sugar can damage your liver, mess with your insulin levels, and negatively affect your metabolism.
#6: Ketchup: 3.7 Grams Per Half Ounce
Ketchup also has a strangely enticing flavor, but the reason you may be addicted to it may be its crazy amount of sugar.
One of those single fast food servings of ketchup can have up to two grams of sugar, according to the Huffington Post.
If you are a ketchup fiend who loves to add it to absolutely everything, keep in mind that you are also pouring on tons of extra sugar!
#7: Yogurt With Fruit: 5 Grams Per Ounce
Yogurt is a great source of protein and calcium, which helps build stronger bones.
But the fruity-flavored yogurts in your grocery store can be loaded with extra sugar — one six ounce serving can have up to 32 grams of sugar, according to Livestrong.com.
If you wanted to try out a healthier option, buy unsweetened greek yogurt and add your own fresh fruit and healthy sweeteners like honey or agave.
#8: Canned Soup: 2 Grams Per Ounce
Heating up a can of soup is so comforting, especially on cold days or when you're feeling under the weather.
But these super easy soups can also be a hidden source of sugar, with some cans having as much as 20 grams of sugar!
Scan your labels carefully when it comes to your favorite soup brands, or try making your own at home.
Recipe books suggest way less sugar and its relatively easy to make!
#9: Bread: 1.5 Grams Per Ounce
Bread is another food that has super sneaky sugar additives, with some brands containing up to two grams of sugar per slice!
But, according to Everydayhealth.com, there's no need to stop eating bread for fear of that extra sugar.
Just make sure to look for bread brands with little to no added sugar and whole wheat flour.
#10: Breakfast Cereals: 2.5 Per Ounce
Breakfast cereal is the best, and there is no better way to get your kids in the morning.
But one serving if your child's favorite cereal have have up to 10 grams of sugar, which is almost as much as two donuts!
Try to balance them out with other breakfast foods with plenty of nutritious benefits — everything in moderation, as we always say!
#11: Peanut Butter: 3 Grams Per Ounce
Peanut butter is, obviously, best when combined with bread and jelly, but its pretty fantastic on almost everything else to.
But be wary of the brands of peanut butter you're buying, some can have up to three teaspoons per two tablespoons!
Sugar is fine in small amounts, but make sure your aren't accidentally overloading yourself with too much of it!
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