According to USDA estimates, on average, each person in the United States consumes about 105 pounds of added sugar per year, or about 30 teaspoons per day. The USDA food pyramid recommends that the average person eat no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per day.

In my recent blog, Sweet Seasons, I discussed sugar in our diets and was asked for tips to help cut back on sugar intake. Here are some tips from the Center for Science in the Public Interest:

• Check nutrition and ingredient labels for sugar and its equivalents, including sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, honey and molasses.

• USDA recommends limiting added sugars -- from packaged foods and the sugar bowl -- to 24 grams a day (6 teaspoons) if you eat 1,600 calories; 40 grams (10 teaspoons) for a 2,000-calorie diet; 56 grams (14 teaspoons) for a 2,400-calorie diet; and 72 grams (18 teaspoons) for a 2,800-calorie-diet. Don't worry about the natural sugars from fruit and milk.

• Cut back on soft drinks (40 grams of sugar per 12 ounces) -- "liquid candy" -- by far the biggest source of sugar in the average American's diet. Drink water, skim or 1% milk, or small amounts of 100% fruit juice.

• Limit candy, cookies, cakes, pies, doughnuts, granola bars, pastries, and other sweet baked goods. Eat fruit instead.

• Look for breakfast cereals that have no more than 8 grams of sugar per serving.

• Watch out for sweets -- ice cream, shakes, and pastries -- served in restaurants. Their huge servings can provide a day's worth of added sugar. For example, a large McDonald's Vanilla Shake and a Cinnabon each have 12 teaspoons (about 48 grams) of added sugar.

Comments (5)

	1. 14-01-2008 11:15
	Tips to Cut Back on Sugar Hi theresa,  Thanks for this follow up on my question regarding ways to cut back on sugar intake.    I realize it has to be "ME" making better choices and following your good advise for the decrease to work. That is my new years resolution!!!!! Happy 2008 to you!!!! Jan Guest

Jan E

	2. 02-02-2008 00:18
	Daily Fat Intake? Hello,    I was wondering what the daily fat intake should be for a low-moderatly active 24 year-old woman? Thanks. Roughly 1600-1800 cal per day. Guest

Amanda

	3. 16-02-2008 19:03
	How much Honey? What about subsituting honey for suga? How much should one use in a cup of tea? Or, should both sugar and honey be completely cut out? Guest

Pat Cetinkaya

	4. 01-11-2008 00:32
	Comment 01 532 http://klzzsas.warszawa.pl your site is so great! Guest

Sennioritta 053229

	5. 04-11-2008 01:27
	Comment 04 727 http://klsas.warszawa.pl your site is so great! Guest

Sennioritta 072746

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