Do you eat sugar every day?  When you start eating sugar do you want more? Do you crave sugary food? Can you go a day without sugar? Do you eat 20-30 teaspoons of sugar a day?

Maybe you are addicted to sugar.

Adults in the US eat 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day and teens eat 34 teaspoons a day. This is sugar and sweeteners added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. This compares to the 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men recommended by the USDA.

Eating too much sugar is part of an addictive cycle. When you eat sugar, it's quickly digested and burned, and it causes peaks and valleys in your energy level that leaves you craving more.

Most of the added sugar comes from soft drinks, candy and processed foods. Take a look at the added sugar in a few of the most popular beverages:

• Coke Classic   12 oz         16 teaspoons
• Rock Star        16 oz         15 teaspoons
• Red Bull          8.3 oz        7 teaspoons

ACTION: Track how much added sugar you eat this week. Look at the labels on the foods you eat and see how much added sugar you are really eating.

Next Blog: How to get rid of sugar cravings with roots.