Sugars often lurk in everyday foods, and whether they’re naturally occurring or added, they can accumulate fast. A food’s protein, fiber, and healthy-fat content can mitigate the sweet stuff’s effects by keeping blood sugar steady, but you still don’t want to overdo it.
Men are urged to limit added sugars — those that don’t occur naturally — to 36 grams a day (9 teaspoons); women 20 grams (5 teaspoons); and children 12 grams (3 teaspoons), according to the American Heart Association. Other experts recommend less, and some maintain that there is no health-related reason to consume any added sugars. Robert Lustig, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease, advises no more than 50 grams of total sugar per day.
Here’s a look at the sugar in some common commercial products:
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Would never have thought that a latte has more sugar than a DD donut!