How Many Grams of Sugar Should Someone Have Daily?

Daily sugar intake

Natural Sugars

Fresh fruits such as apples contain natural sugars.

You do not need to monitor your consumption of naturally occurring sugars found in most fruits, some vegetables and dairy products if you meet the required servings of fruits, vegetables and dairy products in your daily diet. This is because foods with these sugars, such as apples, carrots, potatoes, bananas and milk, have important nutritional value for your body.

Added Sugars

Table sugar is an added sugar and should be limited each day.

You should limit added sugars such as those found in candy, baked desserts, sodas and refined table sugar, because they provide calories without any nutritional value. It is important to check labels to see how many grams of added sugar a food product contains.

According to the Food Guide Pyramid, if your recommended daily calorie limit is 1,600 calories, you should limit your added sugars to 22 grams or six teaspoons per day.

If your recommended daily calorie limit is 2,200 calories, you should limit your added sugars to 44 grams or 12 teaspoons per day.

If your recommended daily calorie limit is 2,800 calories, you should limit your added sugars to 66 grams or 18 teaspoons per day.

To find out what your recommended daily calorie limit is, go to "My Pyramid Plan" at the first link under "Resources" below.

Bottom Line

Everyone has different daily sugar consumption recommendations depending on gender, weight, height and physical activity. You can consume as many naturally occurring sugars in nutritious foods as you want while restricting added sugars. The USDA does not recommend eating more added sugar calories than one's daily discretionary calorie amount.