FDA Recommends 10 percent of sugar in total calories intake of a person per day

The Food and Drug Administration released a new guideline on how much sugar Americans should take each day, which should be no more than 10 percent of calories per day.

According to The New York Times the FDA recommended a daily cap on added sugar to not exceeding 10 percent of the daily calorie intake, which is no more than 12.5 teaspoons or 50 grams a day. That is the amount of sugar in one can of Coke. Sugar, honey, and even high-fructose corn syrups that are in cookies, candies, and sodas. These types of sugar can also be found in Granola, low-fat yogurt, ketchup, canned fruit, pasta sauce, whole grain bread, and marinades.

Mother Jones reported that the new FDA guideline is way smaller than the World Health Organization's recommendation of limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25 grams of sugar per day, which translates to only six teaspoons of sugar per day. Americans are presently taking in an average of 30 teaspoons of sugar each day, according to estimates. Added sugar leads to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and so many other health issues. Besides the limiting of sugar intake, the FDA has also required manufacturers to provide better sugar information on their labels.

In a report by Aljazeera America, UCSF School of Medicine endocrinologist Robert Lustig said that refined carbohydrates in pasta, bread, and French fries make Americans obese since it prompts the pancreas to produce insulin, turning energy into fat. Meanwhile, real sugar from fruits and certain dairy products have fiber, which removes the sensation of hunger.

Added sugar goes to the liver so that it can be turned into energy. However, since the liver can only handle so much; excess energy is turned into liver fat. That leads to metabolic syndrome, a condition that causes insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. This can also lead to heart diseases and high blood pressure.