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Daily requirement of sugar: How much is actually needed?

Daily requirement of sugar: How much is actually needed?

There has been a lot controversy regarding the recommendations for sugar intake.

As per World Health Organization’s guidelines, added sugar should not contribute more than 10 percent of total calorie intake. This means, a person on a 2000-calorie diet should consume no more than 50g of carbohydrate per day in the form of sugar. (One teaspoon of sugar provides 4g of carbohydrate, providing approximately15 calories).

The National Academy of Sciences Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) sets the cut-off at 25 percent of calories or 125g of carbohydrate from sugar on a 2000-calorie diet. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends limiting sugar to 6 to 10 percent of calories from sugar.

According to the American Heart Foundation, the recommended daily requirement of sugar is:

  • Men: 36g or 9 teaspoons
  • Women: 20g or 5 teaspoons
  • Children: 12g or 3 teaspoons

So, the bottom line is to consume as little sugar as humanly possible. Daily requirement of carbohydrates can be met by consuming fruits, vegetables, and grains throughout the day.


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