Sugar consumption is on the rise. According to diet surveys conducted by the USDA, the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of added sugar each day. Added sugar does not include sugar naturally found in milk and fruit. This is double the USDA’s recommendation that the average person eat no more than 10 teaspoons of added sugar per day.
Sugars, in moderation, are part of a healthful diet. Whether naturally occurring or added, sugars can make many nutritious foods even more appealing by adding taste, aroma, texture and color. Aside from their role in tooth decay, sugars in moderate amounts have not been directly linked to chronic health problems.
One may wonder what the problem is with indulging in something sweet occasionally. The answer is that, for most people, there is no problem. However, many people eat large quantities of sugar regularly, rather than occasionally.
Twenty teaspoons may sound like a lot of sugar to get through in one day. But consider the following:
- A 12 ounce Pepsi contains 10 teaspoons of sugar
- A 2 ounce package of candy contains 11 teaspoons of sugar
- 8 ounces of lemonade has nearly 7 teaspoons of sugar
- A cup of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal provides more than 4 teaspoons of sugar.
It is surprising how fast it adds up. While there is certainly nothing wrong with having moderate amounts of sugar in your diet, there’s a problem when high-sugar, low-nutrient food, such as soft drinks or candies, replaces more nutritious food such as fruit.