Get wise about sweeteners

Experts used to say HFCS made you put on pounds faster than table sugar; now they believe all sweeteners contribute to weight gain equally. To cut down on all types of added sugar, use these tips.

• Check for sweeteners in ingredient lists. Limit foods if one of the first two ingredients is a sugar-based product, including glucose, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, honey, corn syrup, HFCS, fruit-juice concentrate, malt or maple syrup and cane juice.  
• Watch for sneaky additions. HFCS and other sweeteners can pop up in foods you might not suspect, such as salad dressing, ketchup and canned soups. Read the nutrition label on the foods you eat so you know how much added sugar you’re swallowing.
• Cut back. Sweetened juice drinks and sodas are just empty calories. You’re better off filling up on nutritious foods.  
• Satisfy your sweet tooth by eating fruit. Unlike sugary treats, fruit contains vitamins and nutrients, which makes it part of a healthy diet.