Why Is Excessive Sugar Bad for Your Health?
Added sugar is the single worst ingredient in the modern diet. Eating too much sugar can increase a person’s risk of many health problems, including weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and tooth decay. But how much is too much?
It is very important to make the distinction between added sugars and sugars that occur naturally in foods like fruits and vegetables. The natural sugars found in fruit (fructose) and dairy (lactose) are not problematic. It’s added sugar: the white, brown, and syrupy stuff that is incorporated into foods during processing.
How much sugar should you have in a day?
Women should use no more than 100 discretionary calories on sugar per day. This is around 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar. Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar (36 grams). Don’t worry about the number. Trying to keep track of your added sugars will make you go nuts. Just cut back.
Continue reading on the next page and discover the 9 signs you’re eating too much sugar: