While sugar offers a pleasant taste and readily available energy source, its consumption requires careful moderation.
Health organizations distinguish between naturally occurring sugars and added sugars.
Naturally occurring sugars, such as fructose in fruits and lactose in milk, are generally considered part of a balanced diet. In contrast, added sugars are incorporated during food processing or preparation, exemplified by honey added to cereal.
The average American consumes added sugar exceeding recommended levels. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise limiting added sugar intake to less than 10% of total daily calories. For an individual consuming 2,000 calories daily, this translates to approximately 12 teaspoons (50 grams) of added sugar. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests an even stricter limit of no more than 6% of total daily calories from added sugars.