How much sugar should I eat a day?

It is important to note that humans are not intended to eat a lot of simple sugar.

The American Heart Association recommends 24 grams of refined sugars per day. It doesn't take much for you to take in too much sugar–which can lead to insulin resistance, meaning diabetes and heart disease. 

If you are trying to quit your sugar habit, give yourself a limit. You don't necessarily have to cut sugar out of your life forever if you're trying to break your habit. But instead of allowing yourself to indulge in whatever you want, give yourself a specific daily quota for the amount of sugar you can have. The World Health Organization recommends a daily sugar intake of less than 10% of your daily calories. That's the equivalent of 40 grams if you're on a 1,600-calorie diet. Keep track of your serving sizes or decide to splurge on one thing in particular each day, like sugar in your morning coffee or an ounce of dark chocolate after dinner (some dark chocolates, in moderation, may be good for your heart).

The recommended sugar intake for adult women is 5 tsp (20g)/day, for adult men it is 9 tsp (36g)/day, and for children it is 3 tsp (12g)/day.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day. That equals about a 100 calories worth of sugar. Unfortunately, it’s less than the sugar in one candy bar or a can of soda. This doesn’t include all the natural sources of sugar from fruits, some vegetables, and even some whole grains. Many Americans consume close to a whopping 22 teaspoons a day.