Sugar surprise

Prepared Foods, Nov, 2004

On the average, Americans eat the equivalent of about 31 teaspoons of added sugar per day. That extra 500 calories is about 20% of our total calorie intake, per an article in Tufts University's Health & Nutrition Letter (June 2004).

The newsletter says that is too much sugar, and that U.S. Dietary Guidelines state, for example, that a person consuming 2,800 calories daily should consume no more than the equivalent of 18 teaspoons of added sugar daily, or 10% of total calorie intake. The World Health Organization also recommends limiting sugar to no more than 10% of total calories, excluding the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits (fructose) and dairy foods (lactose). Besides the concern for good oral health, eating too many sugary foods may reduce the occasions of eating healthier, nutrient-dense foods.

Sugary snacks and beverages are the biggest contributors of sugar to the diet (there are 17 teaspoons of sugar in a 20-oz. soda). Some surprises: one cup of tomato soup contains four teaspoons of added "sugar."