Atkins tries to educate consumers about added sugars

• The next time you seek an "energy boost" from one of your favorite nutrition bars, think about this fact: a chocolate peanut butter PowerBar Performance bar is packed with 20 grams of sugars (contributing to this are the added sugars high fructose corn syrup with grape and pear juice concentrate).
• Nutritionist Colette Heimowitz, MSc, vice president of education and research for Atkins Health & Medical Information Services, believes consumers need to consider whether the consumption of added sugars is really good for them.
• Heimowitz has very clear advice on this matter for consumers -- know what is in the foods you are eating and don't rely on marketing slogans.
• "We believe, and emerging science confirms, a high refined carbohydrate diet, particularly one that includes a significant amount of added sugars, in a variety of forms, contributes to many health-related concerns.1-3 Thus, it's crucial to read the labels on all packaged foods," she says.
• Many Americans believe that if a product is labeled "low-fat" or "low-carb" or includes the words "health" or "healthy," it must be good for them.
• However, this conclusion is not always true and with just the slightest bit of effort, consumers can begin to make wise food choices.
• Consumers must read both the Nutrition Facts label and the list of ingredients to find added sugars.
• If the product is labeled "low-carb," be sure there are no added sugars; moreover, if it contains sugar alcohols, be sure they don't exceed 20 grams, which can cause some people gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Identifying added sugar The Nutrition Facts panel will tell you whether there are sugar grams in a product, but it does not separate added sugars from those that are naturally occurring and integral to the product.