Understanding what qualifies as added sugar is an important step toward making healthier choices in your everyday diet.
Added sugars are those that manufacturers include during food and beverage processing.
They enhance flavor but contribute no essential nutrients, and in excess, they can increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to less than six percent of daily calories.
For someone consuming 2,000 calories a day, this equals about 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men.
Staying within these limits requires more than avoiding obvious desserts.
Many packaged foods, sauces, and drinks contain hidden sugars that are easy to overlook.
Even products marketed as “natural” or “healthy” may contain significant amounts of added sweeteners.
Learning to read nutrition labels can make all the difference.
On the Nutrition Facts panel, “added sugars” appear beneath total sugars, expressed in grams.
This distinction helps you see not only the sugar that occurs naturally in whole foods like fruit or dairy, but also the extra sugars introduced during production.
Becoming familiar with this label feature allows you to make choices that align with your health goals.
A short explainer from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration walks you through how to identify them on packaging.
It can be surprising to discover how many names added sugars go by.
From corn syrup and maltose to agave nectar and cane juice, there are more than fifty variations commonly found in processed foods and beverages.
Testing your knowledge of these names not only sharpens your awareness but also gives you greater control over what you consume.
By recognizing which ingredients represent added sugar and which do not, you can navigate grocery aisles with more confidence.
Natural sugars, such as those found in fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk, are not considered added sugars under the FDA’s definition.
These naturally occurring sugars come packaged with beneficial nutrients, fiber, and vitamins that support your body in ways refined sweeteners cannot.
When evaluating your daily sugar intake, it is important to distinguish between these natural sources and added ones.
If you are curious about how well you can spot added sugars, take our short quiz.
You will be asked to identify ingredients that count as added sugars and those that do not.
It is an engaging way to sharpen your label-reading skills and gain practical knowledge you can use every day.
Your health is shaped by the small, repeated choices you make.
Reducing added sugars is a straightforward yet powerful way to lower your risk of chronic disease, support weight management, and feel more energized throughout the day.
Click below to take the quiz and see how well you know your added sugars.