The Unexpected 'Health' Food That Has More Sugar Than A Krispy Kreme Donut

When you see the "Hot Now" sign light up at Krispy Kreme, part of you may want to pull in just for one. But then you reconsider, knowing that a Krispy Kreme original glazed donut has 190 calories and 10 grams of sugar. That's a good portion of the American Heart Association's recommended daily sugar intake. For men, the upper limit is 36 grams of sugar, and for women, it's 25 grams.

Instead of going for a Krispy Kreme, you head to a convenience store to look for some healthier options. However, you find that sweetened yogurt has more than twice the sugar of a Krispy Kreme donut. A serving of flavored, instant oatmeal does a little better with just 12 grams of sugar. So, you decide to get a green juice to get some servings of veggies and fruit. But Naked's Green Machine has 53 grams of sugar in a single bottle. That's five times the sugar in a Krispy Kreme donut. However, there's a subtle difference between the sugar in a Krispy Kreme donut versus the sugar in Naked's Green Machine.

The American Heart Association explained that natural sugars are those that occur in food in its natural state, while added sugars are sweeteners added during food processing. These can include ingredients such as corn sweeteners, fruit juice concentrates, honey, high fructose corn syrup, and plain sugar listed on the label. To maintain a healthy heart and control weight, the American Heart Association recommended reducing the amount of added sugars in your diet.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, no more than 10% of your calories should come from added sugar, which amounts to about 50 grams if you take in 2,000 calories a day. There is no recommendation for total sugars in your diet. The Food and Drug Administration now requires nutrition labels to disclose how much added sugar is in food or drinks. These labels provide the percentage of added sugar in a 2,000-calorie diet, so you can make better food choices. A food with more than 20% of the daily calories from added sugars is considered a high source of added sugar.

Although the Naked Green Machine juice has 53 grams of total sugar, it has no added sugar. In contrast, a Krispy Kreme glazed donut has less total sugar, but 9 grams of added sugar. This means the added sugar in the donut accounts for 18% of your daily recommended intake, which almost meets the FDA's characterization of a high-sugar food. If you're trying to limit your added sugar intake, Naked's Green Machine might be a better option. Additionally, the juice contains broccoli, spinach, and kale rather than the flour and fat found in a donut.

The Naked Green Machine juice has more calories than a Krispy Kreme, but it doesn't claim to be a low-calorie food on the bottle. Therefore, if you're not careful, it could lead to weight gain. It also lacks fiber, which can help you feel full when consuming whole fruits and vegetables. However, according to Healthline, you'll reap the benefits of antioxidants in a bottle of Naked's Green Machine. Ultimately, if you're aiming for something truly healthy, it's best to opt for whole fruits or a salad to avoid consuming too many calories from sugar.