What is sugar?

Sugar is a sweetener that provides calories and is added to food and drinks to give them a sweet taste as well as texture, body and bulk. It is also sometimes called a caloric sweetener.

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that your body uses for fuel. It has no other nutritional value.

What is the difference between “naturally occurring sugar” and “added sugar”?

Naturally occurring sugar is the sugar found in whole, unprocessed foods, such as milk, fruit, vegetables and some grains. The most common natural sugars are fructose, which is found in fruit, and lactose, which is found in milk products.

Added sugar is the sugar added to processed food and drinks while they are being made, as well as sugar you may add to your food at home. Food manufacturers may add both natural sugars (such as fructose) and processed sugars (such as high-fructose corn syrup) to processed food and drinks.

Why is sugar added to food and drinks?

While added sugar provides no nutritional value, it does serve many uses in food processing. Added sugar can:

• Serve as a preservative for jellies and jams
• Provide bulk to ice creams
• Assist in fermentation of breads and alcohol
• Maintain the freshness of baked goods

Sugar is also added to processed food and drinks because it makes them taste more appealing.

Why is it important to limit added sugar in my diet?

There are serious health consequences to consuming added sugar. Too much added sugar in your diet can contribute to tooth decay, obesity, difficulty controlling type 2 diabetes, higher triglyceride levels, lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also called “good”) cholesterol levels, and heart disease.

Also, if you fill up on foods or beverages that contain added sugar, you are less likely to consume healthy foods and beverages that protect your health. For example, studies have shown that the more sugary beverages (such as soda or juice drinks) people drink, the less milk they drink. Milk provides calcium, protein and vitamins that help your body function well, but soda and juice drinks provide a lot of calories from sugar and little to no nutritional value.

How much added sugar is too much?

Each individual needs a certain amount of calories each day to provide energy. You should try to meet most of your daily calorie needs by eating healthy low- or no-sugar foods that provide important nutrients for your body. If you are very physically active or if you choose healthy foods to meet most of your calorie needs, you may have some extra (called discretionary) calories left over. This means you may have some calories left for treats.

The average American consumes about 22 teaspoons (355 calories) of sugar each day, about the same amount of sugar in 2 12-ounce cans of non-diet (regular) soda plus a chocolate bar. Given the rising rates of obesity and heart disease, the American Heart Association recently released guidelines for eating added sugar. The AHA recommends that no more than half of your extra (discretionary) calories come from added sugars. For women, this means no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day (about 100 calories), about the same amount of sugar in a ½ cup serving of ice cream or less than a 12-ounce can of non-diet soda. Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar a day (about 155 calories), about the same amount of sugar in a 16-ounce mocha coffee drink or a 12-ounce can of non-diet soda.