Let’s not sugarcoat things

Healthy Set Go team

Posted December 29, 2015

Did you know that the average 20 oz. cola has 16 teaspoons—or a quarter cup—of sugar? Most people don't realize how much sugar they're drinking when it comes to popular soft drinks. In fact, sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of added sugar in many people's diets—and it's those calories that are adding to the nation's obesity epidemic today. One of the simplest ways to reduce the amount of sugar we drink is to eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages, which pack a big calorie punch, but do little to satisfy hunger.

Allina Health is taking a stand against the negative health effects of these sugar-sweetened beverages by removing them from our hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other places where we sell beverages. We don't believe these options are good for health—and as part of our mission to help people live their healthiest, we're making it easier to choose healthy at our facilities.

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Let's not sugarcoat things.

Sugary drinks are the #1 source of added sugar in diets.

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Americans drink an average of 46 gallons of sugary drinks each year

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Just one sugary drink a day increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26%

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One 20 oz. cola has 16 heaping teaspoons of sugar

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1 in 3 cancer deaths in the U.S. is linked to excess body weight, poor nutrition and/or physical inactivity

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Drinking 7 or more sugary drinks a week could increase your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease

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Just one sugary drink per day increases an adult's risk of becoming overweight by 27%

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At Allina Health, we're committed to making it easier to choose healthy. That's why we no longer sell beverages that are pre-sweetened with added sugars or other caloric sweeteners. Give a healthy beverage choice a try instead. Learn more at allinahealth.or/choosehealthy