Chioma Umeha

When you pick up a box of doughnuts or cookies, you are typically not surprised to see that the offering contains loads of sugar. However, there are also foods that aren’t typically thought of as overly sweet that actually pack a shocking sugar punch. A few things to always keep in mind: Be wary of a product that is labeled as nutritious, and do not assume   a food is low in sugar just because its brand sounds healthy. Here are   foods that are loaded with sugar.  Canned or packaged fruit  Make sure you do not assume that everything labeled as fruit is healthy. According to experts, packaged or canned fruit is packed with sugar, even those items with labels that say “in light syrup” or “made with real fruit.” This includes products like apple sauce, fruit chillers, and canned fruit. Specifically, experts have suggested keeping an eye packaged fruits, reasoning that they are in the same ballpark as a standard-size chocolate candy bar, which contains 27 grams of sugar.  Fl

A vaccine to help protect against some forms of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) has been on the market for years. But new research shows that a newer version, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2014, can prevent more than 80 per cent of cervical cancers.  The new 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine, which guards against seven cancer-causing HPV types, also has the potential to protect against other cancers including anal, oral, and penile cancers. All of the HPV vaccines available defend against HPV types 16 and 18, which are known to cause about two-thirds of cervical cancers in the United States. The 9-valent vaccine also guards against five additional types of HPV, which combined cause about 15 per cent of cervical cancer cases. According to the National Cancer Institute, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. The virus causes nearly all forms of cervical cancer and five per cent of all cancers. 

Continued from last week...  Protein bars  If you rely on protein bars for the occasional meal or snack, it may be time to re-evaluate. Research shows that there are 20 grams of sugar in a Clif Builder’s Protein Bar. Many protein bars are advertised to be healthy options for diet-conscious people, but they’re usually packed with sugar and carbs. Need more proof? According to Women’s Health, a PowerBar Performance Energy Bar in Citrus Burst contains a staggering 29 grams of sugar.If your diet is already high in sugar, you may want to consider switching out your bars for raw almonds, peanuts, or seeds instead, according to Men’s Fitness. Also, always make sure to read labels first to ensure you are not buying a protein bar that is oozing with sugar and artificial ingredients.  Fruit juice  Juice is usually thought of as a healthy, good-for-you option. However, its sugar content can be through the roof. Take grape juice, for example. Women’s Health writes that an 8-oun

Studies have proved that skipping breakfast is dangerous to the health. Experts are worried over the rising number of people who miss breakfast in today’s society in view of its grave consequences. About 18 per cent of males and 13 percent of females between the ages of 35 and 54 are breakfast skippers, according to a 2011 study.  Benefits of breakfast:  Diabetes: Skipping breakfast may increase a woman’s diabetes risk, according to a study published recently, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Women who ate breakfast an average of zero to six times per week were at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women who ate breakfast every day.  Heart disease: Eating breakfast was associated with a lower incidence of heart disease in men between ages 45 and 82, according to another study in the journal, Circulation. The study also found that skipping breakfast was associated with hypertension, insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels.  We