5 surprising sources of sugar in supermarket foods

When you think of sugary foods, things like cookies and ice cream probably come to mind. But some foods that you might consider healthy may have more added sugar than you realize. A little sweetness every now and again is generally ok, but over the long-term, eating foods with a lot of added sugar can increase your risk for health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Chronic conditions like these develop gradually and often quietly. Of the more than 38 million people in the United States who have diabetes, for example, more than 20 percent of them may be unaware of their condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Added sugars are sweeteners—like sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or honey—added to processed and prepared foods. (Naturally occurring sugars found in foods like fruit and milk are not considered added sugars.) The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of your daily calories. For most women, that’s about 100 calories per day (equivalent to six teaspoons, or 25 grams). For men, that’s about 150 calories per day (roughly nine teaspoons or 36 grams).

Here are five foods that are high in hidden sugars. You might be surprised by what you discover.