Americans' eating habits are greatly linked to the high amount of ultra-processed foods that are eaten based on a new study. Foods such as breakfast cereals, microwave pizzas, and soft drinks make up nearly 60 percent of an American's diet on an average day. Such unhealthy food also provided 90 percent of the added sugars that Americans took in through food and drinks.

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The study was published March 9, Wednesday in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ Open.

Health experts recommend that Americans get a maximum of 10 percent of total calories from added sugars. However, 71 percent of United States adults eat more than that figure, and added sugars make up 15 percent of total calories, according to Los Angeles Times.

Sugar turns into fat that can cause people to become overweight or obese. Such health conditions can cause many problems including type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and cancer.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that over three-quarters of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in American diets is from the food industry. That finding resulted in its new study.

Its research was based on research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey tracks and records the eating habits of children and adults.

CDC's research was based on interviews with about 9,300 people in 2009 and 2010. Participants remembered all the food they ate during the last 24 hours, which included over 280,000 food items.  

The survey participants ate an average 2,070 calories per day. Around 28 percent of the calories were from natural or slightly processed foods, including milk, eggs, and vegetables.

However, the calories from ultra-processed foods were higher than all other foods, making up almost 3 out of every 5 calories. Ultra-processed foods include breads, cookies, cakes, pies, and salty snacks such as potato chips.    

In related news the campaign group Action for Sugar studied the sugar content of hot drinks served in Britain, including Starbucks. It learned that seven of the 34 Starbuck drinks made the top 10 list for highest sugar content per serving, according to Alternative Daily. 

Here are some healthy snack ideas: