Not So Sweet
As dancers, we’re hyperaware of what we put into our bodies since what we eat directly affects how we dance. You’ve probably glanced at the nutrition facts of your favorite foods to check the calorie count and fat grams, but even foods we think of as healthy can be secretly sugary. Do you know how much sugar you’re consuming? Take our quiz.
Picture it:
An easy way to visualize your sugar intake is to think in terms of packets, not grams. DS health and nutrition expert Caroline Lewis-Jones explains the math: “One packet of sugar contains 2.8 grams, so divide the grams of sugar in a product by 2.8 to find out how many packets of sugar are in it. But remember to consider how many servings you’re consuming. If you drink an entire 20-ounce Mountain Dew (which is 2.5 servings), you’ll need to multiply the grams of sugar in the serving size by 2.5 before you divide.”
grams of sugar in a product x serving size / 2.8 grams = number of sugar packets you are consuming
1. A 16.9-ounce Mountain Dew contains _____ packets of sugar
a. 10
b. 19.3
c. 7
d. 23.2
2. A 6-ounce Original Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt contains _____ packets of sugar
a. 9.3
b. 2
c. 6
d. 3.7
3. A 16-ounce (Grande) Starbucks Caramel Frappuchino contains _____ packets of sugar
a. 20.5
b. 22.9
c. 12
d. 18
4. A 16-ounce Jamba Juice Banana Berry contains _____ packets of sugar
a. 30
b. 25.6
c. 17
d. 20.4
5. A regular-size Snickers Bar contains _____ packets of sugar
a. 20
b. 15
c. 10.7
d. 26.4
Caroline says:
Sugar consumption is one of the biggest factors contributing to our society’s health problems. (We shouldn’t be consuming more than 18 packets a day!)
Simple swaps, like subbing a tall glass of water splashed with 100 percent fruit juice for a Mountain Dew, can make a big difference. Watch your sugar intake, dancers—be plant-strong (eat lots of fruits and veggies) and you’ll dance and feel stronger!
Big Gulps, Eh?
You know it’s important to stay hydrated while you dance, but did you know that you should be gulping—instead of sipping—your water? According to Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, when you gulp fluids, they quickly pool in your stomach, triggering the stretch receptors that create the pressure necessary to rapidly empty your stomach. That prevents the cramping that occurs when fluids stay there too long.
DID YOU KNOW?
Exercising (dancing!) can significantly reduce severe headaches. According to a new study published in the journal Cephalalgia, researchers found that people who exercised for 40 minutes, three times a week, felt the same positive effects on their migraines as the participants who took daily doses of topiramate, a drug that helps prevent migraines.
Answers: 1. d, 2. a, 3. b, 4. d, 5. c
