What is the recommended daily intake for sugar?
Answer
The 2015—2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting added sugar to less than 10% of total calories per day. Sugar is added to many foods that are low in nutrients and can cause weight gain, however sugar is also found naturally in many healthful foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). There are many types of added sugars such as corn syrup, sucrose, and high fructose corn syrup, just to name a few. You can look for added sugars on the nutrition facts panel of food labels.
Mother nature put more thought and chemistry into her fruits than just sweetness. There are multiple health promoting qualities of fruits provided by phenols, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The antioxidant quality of fruits and vegetables is just one of the many ways fruits and vegetables are protective to your health. Make sure you are meeting the daily recommendation for fruits and vegetables.