How Much Sugar Should You Eat?

So many people are talking about the problems caused by eating a lot of sugar, but what is the daily recommendation of sugar we should be eating and how do you identify how much you actually eat?

Many organisations recommend adults should consume just 30g or 7 teaspoons of sugar per day.

To help you keep track of your sugar intake, here’s a list of all the words used on food labels that indicate a type of sugar or sweetener has been included. Be warned, there’s a lot!

acesulfame potassium (or acesulfame-k)
agave nectar (or syrup)
artichoke syrup
aspartame
aspartame-acesulfame salt
barley malt syrup
blackstrap molasses
brown rice syrup (or rice malt syrup)
cane crystals
cane juice crystals
cane juice solids
cane sugar
caramel
carob syrup
coconut palm sugar
coconut sugar
corn sweetener
corn syrup (or corn syrup solids)
date sugar
demerara sugar
dextran
dextrin
dextrose
diastase
erythritol
ethyl maltol
evaporated cane juice
fructose
fruit juice
fruit juice concentrate
fruit juice crystals
galactose
glucose
glucose solids
glycerin
glycerol
golden syrup
grape sugar
high-fructose corn syrup
honey
hydrogenated starch
hydrolysate inulin
isomalt
lactitol
lactose
luo han guo(or monk fruit)
malt syrup
maltitol
maltodextrin
maltose
mannitol
maple syrup
molasses
naturlose
neotame
oligofructose
palm sugar
panela
panocha
rapadura
raw honey
raw sugar
reb a
rebiana
refiner’s syrup
rice syrup
saccharin
sodium cyclamate
sorbitol
sorghum syrup
stevia
sucanat
sucralose
sucrose
sugar alcohols
sugar beet
sugar cane
sweet sorghum
syrup
tagatose
treacle
trehalose
turbinado sugar
xylitol
xylose
yacon syrup
yellow sugar

Extracted from Keep It Real by Calgary Avansino, published by Yellow Kite, £25

Photography by Kristin Perers