How Candy Bites Back

Like that other white substance, sugar is majorly addicting…and detrimental to your health. here’s a simple plan to kick your habit.

- Jessica Migala

Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, know this: The average young woman eats an astonishing 57 pounds of added sugar each year. That works out to 275 calories of the sweet stuff per day, equal to nearly triple the 6-teaspoon (25 gram) daily limit the American Heart Association recommends.

The potential fallout includes low energy, excess belly fat, early aging (wrinkles!), and long-term, serious issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Gulp.

Swearing off candy and dessert won’t fully solve the problem; nearly 75 percent of packaged foods—like pasta sauce, ketchup, salad dressing— is loaded with added sugar. A better plan: Our guide to cutting back your sweet consumption, created with the help of Cosmo’s expert panel. Follow these tips and strategies and you’ll wean yourself off in no time.

1 KICK SODA TO THE CURB.

A 12-ounce can has 39 grams of sugar. Juice may be natural, but it’s no better: An 8-ounce glass can have 22 grams. So, it’s best to stick with water, seltzer, or unsweetened iced tea.

2 BUILD A BETTER BREKKIE.