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-
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.