Sugar Intake Calculator

Added sugars are sweeteners added to foods during processing, preparation, or at the table. Unlike naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables, and dairy, added sugars contribute calories without meaningful nutrients. Excessive consumption is strongly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dental problems. The American Heart Association and World Health Organization have established recommended limits for added sugar intake. These limits are significantly lower than what many people currently consume, especially in processed food-heavy diets where sugar hides in unexpected places like bread, condiments, and "healthy" snacks. For most adults, added sugar should comprise no more than 5-10% of total daily calories. For a 2,000 calorie diet, this translates to about 25-50 grams (6-12 teaspoons) of added sugar per day. Children have even lower limits due to their smaller body size and calorie needs. Identifying added sugars requires label reading skills. Sugar appears under many names including cane sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, and molasses. Ingredient lists that include multiple sugar sources often indicate high added sugar content.