Are Added Sugars Bad For You?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Eating too much added sugar can have many

negative health effects

. An excess of sweetened foods and beverages can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease, among other dangerous conditions.

What is the difference between sugars and added sugars?

Natural sugars are naturally occurring in whole foods like fruit that come with added health benefits like fiber and antioxidants. Added sugars are added during the processing of packaged foods and

do not provide any nutrients

(besides calories).

What does it mean when it says includes added sugar?

Having the word “includes” before added sugars on the label indicates that

added sugars are included in the number of grams of total sugars in the product

. This means one serving of the product has 7 grams of added sugars and 8 grams of naturally occurring sugars – for a total of 15 grams of sugar.

Is total sugar the same as added sugar?


Total sugars include both added sugars and natural sugars

. Added sugars are the ones you want to limit. Naturally occurring sugars are found in milk (lactose) and fruit (fructose). Any product that contains milk (such as yogurt, milk or cream) or fruit (fresh, dried) contains some natural sugars.

What contains added sugar?

Added sugar is obviously in

candy, cake, soda, and fruit drinks

. But it’s also in foods that aren’t considered sweets, including salad dressings, crackers, yogurt, bread, spaghetti sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup, and breakfast cereals. You can find added sugar by looking at the ingredients in a product.

Can your body tell the difference between natural and added sugars?


The human body does not differentiate between naturally occurring sugars

and those that are added to foods. The metabolism of all carbohydrates follows the same pathway, yielding the core monosaccharides as the end result. However, this does not necessarily make a cupcake and an apple nutritionally the same.

What are added sugars examples?

Added sugars include

sucrose, dextrose, table sugar, syrups, honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices

. The leading sources [PDF-30.6MB] of added sugars in the US diet are sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts and sweet snacks.

Why added sugars is bad?

Eating an excessive amount of added sugar can

increase triglyceride levels

, which may increase your risk of heart disease. Tooth decay. Sugar promotes tooth decay by allowing bacteria to multiply and grow. The more often you eat or drink foods with natural sugar or added sugar, the more likely you are to get cavities.

What are the signs of too much sugar in the body?

  • Brain fog and decreased energy. When you regularly consume too much sugar, your body is constantly oscillating between peaks and crashes. …
  • Cravings and weight gain. …
  • Type 2 diabetes. …
  • Difficulty sleeping. …
  • Heart disease and heart attacks. …
  • Mood disorders. …
  • Skin issues. …
  • Tooth decay.

What sugars should you avoid?

  • high fructose corn syrup.
  • cane sugar or cane juice.
  • maltose.
  • dextrose.
  • invert sugar.
  • rice syrup.
  • molasses.
  • caramel.

How much natural sugar is OK in a day?

According to AHA guidelines, most men should consume no more than 150 discretionary calories of sugar per day. This is equivalent to 38 g or 9 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar. Women should use no more than 100 discretionary calories on sugar per day. This is around

25 g

or 6 tsp of sugar.

How much sugar is too much daily?

How Much Is Too Much? The American Heart Association recommends

no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams)

of added sugar a day for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men. But the average American gets way more: 22 teaspoons a day (88 grams).

Does sugar in milk count as added sugar?

This is 100 percent lactose, the natural sugar found in milk as it comes from the cow—

no sugar is added

. Each individual needs certain amount of calories each day to provide energy.

What foods have no added sugar?

  • vegetables.
  • fruits.
  • lean meats, poultry, or tofu.
  • fish.
  • whole, unprocessed grains, and legumes.
  • nuts and seeds.

Is Rice high in sugar?

Does Rice Have Sugar and Carbohydrates?

Rice does not have sugar in it

, but it does have starch – a lot of starch. Sugars and starches are both types of carbohydrates. Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of many pieces of a type of sugar called glucose.

What foods have the most added sugar?

  • Candy.
  • Cakes.
  • Cookies.
  • Pies and cobblers.
  • Sweet rolls, pastries, and doughnuts.
  • Dairy desserts, such as ice cream and yogurt.
  • Sugar sweetened drinks, such as soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice drinks.
Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.