< 12 teaspoons
The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total calories, which equals to about 12 teaspoons of sugar (=200 calories) based on a 2,000 calories diet. This recommendation is in line with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published earlier this year.
270 Calories
Americans consume about 270 calories from added calories on a daily basis and typically more than 13% of their total calories. Sweetened drinks are the primary culprit, accounting for roughly half of the added sugars intake. Learn how much working out you need to do to get rid of 300 calories by clicking here. (Note: I’m not a sport expert, but the number on the infographic seems to provide a reliable average burnt calories depending on the activity.)
90%
The risk of death from heart disease or stroke is nearly 90% higher in individuals who consume more than 25% of total calories from added sugars VS those who consumed less than 10%.
10 teaspoons
One 355-ml can of sugar-sweetened soda inconspicuously carries a whopping 40 grams of sugar, which is the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Can you imagine putting that amount of sugar into your cup of coffee in the morning?
1.8 Billion revenue/year
If the government were to impose a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, they could be raking in 1.8 billion dollars every year. This colossal amount of money can serve great purposes for the health care system.
References:
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020. USDA. URL Link. Published December 2015. Accessed September 21, 2016.
Sugar, Heart Disease and Stroke. Heart and Stroke Foundation. URL Link. Published August 2014. Accessed September 21, 2016.
