Sweet Treats? Your Guide to Sugar Content in Hummus

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Hope Foods

Is there Sugar in Humms?Sweet Treats? Your Guide to Sugar Content in Hummus

If you’ve lived in America anytime in the last 20 years, you may noticed the incredible popularity of sugary foods. Super-sized sodas, king-sized candy bars, dozens of donuts… it’s a cultural norm to indulge our “sweet tooth” from time to time. Whether it’s cracker jacks at the ballgame or candy at the movies, these foods have become a cultural norm.

What are the risks of a sugary diet?

However, it is almost as widely known that increased sugar consumption is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver problems, and cancer. Aside from that, it contains tons of non-nutritive calories, and it’s bad for your teeth!

With all the risks a sugary diet brings, it’s no wonder that most doctors and fitness specialists have called for people to reduce the sugar in their diets. Which brings us to a question that more than one curious customer has brought to us: “Is there sugar in hummus?”

Is there sugar in hummus?

A reasonable question! You would think from its savory, sometimes-spicy flavor that there wouldn’t be sugar in hummus, but it can be hard to tell these days. It is not uncommon to find sugar or high-fructose corn syrup snuck into all sorts of products: breads and cereals, peanut butter, low-fat yogurt, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, pre-made soup, and protein bars can all serve as unexpected sources of sugar. That being the case, perhaps we should be asking about the sugar in hummus!

Fortunately for us all, most hummus contains little to no sugar. Whew! In fact, hummus is often recommended for low- or no-sugar diets—since aside from skimping on sweeteners, it packs a heavy dose of vitamins and minerals, protein, complex carbohydrates, heart-healthy fats, and fiber. And at HOPE, where all of our hummus bears the USDA Certified Organic label, contains no unnatural preservatives or additives, and uses only extra virgin olive oil, we go a step above the rest to make sure your low-sugar treat is as healthy as can be!

Noteworthy News

This is good news for your body. Doctors typically recommend limiting daily sugar intake because consuming sugars and simple carbohydrates can raise your blood sugar levels. As those levels rise, the body produces insulin to transport sugar from the bloodstream to cells. The body’s cells may eventually become resistant to insulin, leading to diabetes.

This interplay of glucose and insulin leads to spikes in blood sugar when too much sugar is consumed. This can lead, among other things, to the infamous “food coma.”

It is important to bring this up, because you still need to check out how much sugar is in hummus before you buy it. Many flavors incorporate some sweeteners, and some are better than others. If you see “high-fructose corn syrup” on a hummus label, put it back on the shelf, since high-fructose corn syrup is the worst health offender in the sweetener world. If your hummus does contain sugar or honey, maybe think twice.
However, if you see agave syrup on the label, you may just want to give it a try. Recommended for diabetics because of its slower uptake into the bloodstream, agave syrup provides a sweet taste without requiring your body to go insulin-crazy—so your hummus blood sugar effects will be minimal.

Try HOPE hummus today!

At HOPE, we have many options for totally sugar free hummus. Our Original, Spicy Avocado, Sriracha, Jalapeño Cilantro, and Kale Pesto flavors, for example, are completely sweetener-free. However, for a walk on the sweeter side, we have options that contain organic agave, like Thai Coconut Curry and Lemon Peppercorn, for just the right flavor.

One of our valued customers recently wrote, “I quit sugar. Hummus has been a lifesaver!” If you are one of the many who are ditching unhealthy sweets, then simply find a hummus container at the supermarket, and make sure to check that hummus sugar content. With a little knowledge and diligence, you can make sure your delicious dip is doing you right.

As always, cheers and good eating!