Alester Brown

How Much Sugar is Too Much Sugar?

Do you need help with sugar binging? Americans consume far more sugar than they should. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, many processed foods in your local grocery store contain added sugars that inadvertently make it easy to exceed the daily recommended limit.

Studies show that the average American consumes two to three times more than the recommended amount! But how much sugar is too much?

Recommended Sugar Intake

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), men should consume just nine teaspoons (36 grams) of sugar daily. Meanwhile, women should get less. The daily recommended limit for women is just six teaspoons (25 grams).

That's not a lot of sugar! For perspective, a normal 12-ounce can of one of the country's most popular sodas contain a whopping 39 grams of sugar. You'd meet your daily limit before you finish the can!

Why You Should Get Help with Sugar Binging

Sugar can do a lot to make foods more palatable. Who doesn't love a tasty candy bar? The problem is that people consume far more of it than they realize. Think of how much sugar you put in your morning coffee every day. Add that in with snacks throughout the day, desserts you consume after dinner, the sports drinks you gulp down after a workout, etc.

If you truly paid attention to how much sugar you consume, you'd be surprised by how quickly you pass the AHA's recommended limit.

But why is that bad?

Excessive sugar intake can lead to various health problems. One of the most worrying is an increased risk of heart disease. Too much sugar can increase your blood pressure and cause chronic inflammation. But that's not all.

Sugar also leads to weight gain and an increased accumulation of body fat. Those issues could put you on the path to serious health problems like fatty liver disease or diabetes.

It isn't easy to cut back on sugar, but everyone can benefit from being more mindful about what they consume. Switching to low-sugar foods is the first step in the right direction.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown writes about heart health & cholesterol topics. She advises people on the highest quality clinically-proven foods to help lower your cholesterol. You can find her thoughts at heart health resources blog.