Americans Urged To Cut Way Back on Sugar

The typical American gets 22 teaspoons of added sugars each day, and the American Heart Association says that’s way too much. It says the average woman should consume no more than 6 teaspoons daily. For a man, the limit should be 9. The group’s new statement is in the journal Circulation. The Associated Press (AP) wrote about it August 25. The limits include sweeteners such as corn syrup, too. They do not include natural sugars such as those in fruit. Soft drinks are by far the biggest source of added sugars for Americans, the guidelines say. A 12-ounce drink contains sweeteners equal to 8 teaspoons of sugar. Candy, sugar, cookies, cakes and pies rank next. People who want to consume more sugar should exercise more, the guidelines’ lead author told AP.