Survey: Americans decreasing soda, sugar intake

If you have been trying to drink less soda lately, you are not alone. A recent Gallup poll says that more Americans are avoiding drinking soda than ever before.

The data was compiled from a poll taken July 7-10 that asked Americans about their consumption habits, according to the Gallup poll. Around 63 percent of Americans reported they “actively tried to avoid soda” compared with only 41 percent in 2002.

The study showed that along with decreasing soda intake, Americans are also decreasing their sugar intake. Forty-two percent said they avoid sugar which is a slight increase from 2002 with 43 percent.

Gallup suggested the change in diet was a result of a change in perception with soda and sugar now moving “into the category of food a majority of Americans appear to consider bad for them.” However, despite the intake of sugars and soda decreasing, the salt intake for most Americans has remained virtually the same since 2002.

The data also suggested that Americans are more likely to include fruits and vegetables in their diet than organic foods.

“The data generally show that Americans are highly aware of what they should and should not be including in their diet, including their almost universal claim that they include fruits and vegetables in their daily eating plans,” the study says. “Because it is not clear that such a high proportion of Americans really do eat this healthily, the challenge appears to be one of changing their actual behavior rather than their underlying knowledge of what is good and bad for their health.”

Email: fheaton@ksl.com.