It's no secret that excessive sugar is bad for your health, but are we always aware of how much sugar we are really putting into our bodies? The American Heart Association recommends that women limit their sugar intake to 6 teaspoons (25 g) and men limit their intake to about 9 teaspoons (37.5g) per day. With the processed foods we eat today, sugar is becoming more and more of a "secret ingredient," hidden in products by different names or strategic marketing.

Forbes states that the average American consumes 130 pounds of sugar per year and 3,550 pounds over a lifetime. That is disgusting when you think about how much harm that can do to a person's body. Sugar has the potential to be "just as addictive as cocaine," and has been linked to cancer, Alzheimer's, and obesity. If we're going to be consuming this, we should really be aware of how much sugar is in the foods we eat.

Here are some foods that are marketed as "healthy options," but maybe taking up a lot more of your daily sugar allowance than you realize. Remember, these foods alone are fine in moderation!

1. Dried Fruits

Just 1 oz. of dried fruit contains 16 grams of sugar! You could have a salad for lunch with some dried cranberries thrown on top and you're over half of your daily sugar allowance (if you're female). A salad!

2. Yogurt

This does not apply to all yogurt. Greek yogurt tends to be much lower in sugar and higher in protein. However, the common yogurts, like Yoplait originals, have 18g of sugar. Yogurt can be a great healthy option but look for one that is naturally lower in sugars.

3. Granola

Have you ever noticed how small serving sizes are on ice cream pints? These serving sizes are similar for granola too. Eating half of a cup of granola will set you back about 12g. That is roughly 3 teaspoons of sugar in a food you might be eating to try to be healthy.

4. Sports Drinks

According to Gatorade's website, just one of their classic "Thirst Quenchers" contains 34g of sugar! Powerade is no better! While these may help restore you after an intense workout, this amount of sugar is unnecessary. Sodas contain similar levels. A great thing to keep in mind is that there are lower sugar options available. You can make these drinks at home and add only what you need (not Red 40 and other dyes). Here's a recipe to make your own sports drinks.

5. Protein Bars

Clif Bars are super popular protein bar options. While they are filled with a lot of nutritious ingredients, they also add 21g of sugar to make the bar more palatable. That's the same amount of sugar in a Kit Kat, and I'd much rather eat a Kit Kat!

6. Oatmeal

Make sure you're checking labels on your flavored oatmeals! It's generally better to add the flavoring yourself so that you're aware of how much sweetener is going into your breakfast. Similar to granola, oatmeal flavors like the Apples & Cinnamon pack in 12g of sugar. This isn't horrible if the rest of your diet is low-sugar, but just be mindful of the sugar content while trying to stay within the healthy range.

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Certainly enjoy the sweet things in life, as I know I do, but be aware of how much sugar you're actually eating. Don't waste it on things you thought were going to be healthy or low-sugar!