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What is sugar?

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that provides calories for your body to use as energy. Sugar has no other nutritional value.

What is the difference between “naturally occurring sugar” and “added sugar”?

Naturally occurring sugar is the sugar found in whole, unprocessed foods, such as milk, fruit, vegetables, and some grains. One of the most common natural sugars is fructose, which is found in fruit. Another common natural sugar is lactose, which is found in milk.

Added sugar is the sugar that is added to processed foods and drinks while they are being made. Food manufacturers may add both natural sugars (for example, fructose) and processed sugars (for example, high-fructose corn syrup) to processed foods and drinks. The sugar you add to your food at home is also added sugar.

On average Canadians consume 110.0 grams of sugar a day, the equivalent of 26 teaspoons.

Why is sugar added to foods and drinks?

Added sugar provides little to no nutritional value, but it does serve many uses in food processing. For example, added sugar can:

• Improve the flavor, color, or texture of foods and drinks
• Keep jellies and jams from spoiling
• Help fermentation in breads and alcohol
• Keep baked goods fresh longer

What are the main sources of added sugar in Canada?

• Sugary drinks (for example, soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice drinks)
• Candy
• Cakes
• Cookies
• Pies and cobblers
• Sweet rolls, pastries, and doughnuts
• Dairy desserts (for example, ice cream and sweetened yogurt)

Why is it important to limit added sugar in my diet?

If you eat or drink too much added sugar it can lead to health problems including tooth decay, obesity, difficulty controlling type 2 diabetes, higher triglyceride levels, lower high‑density lipoprotein (HDL, also called “good”) cholesterol levels, and heart disease.

Also, if you fill up on foods or drinks that contain added sugar, you are less likely to eat and drink healthy options. For example, studies have shown that the more sugary drinks people drink, the less milk they drink. Milk provides calcium, protein, and vitamins that help your body function well. Sugary drinks provide many calories from sugar and little to no nutritional value.

How much added sugar is too much?

Your body needs a certain amount of calories each day for energy. Think of this as your daily calorie goal. Different people have different daily calorie goals. For example, an adult athlete needs more calories than an active child.

Most of the calories you eat or drink are used to meet your body’s nutrient needs. However, added sugars in foods and drinks add calories that provide little or no nutritional value. These calories are sometimes called “empty calories.” A small amount of empty calories in your diet is okay, but you may gain weight if you eat or drink too many empty calories.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation and Diabetes Canada recommends you consume no more than 10% of total daily calorie intake from Sugar.  Based on a 2000 calorie a day diet, this is about 50 grams (or 12 teaspoons).

How can I find out how much added sugar is in my food or drink?

Check the Nutrition Facts Table on the food or drink package. Food manufacturers do not have to list naturally occurring sugars and added sugars separately on this label. However, you can see how much total sugar is in each serving.

You can also check the ingredient list, which lists ingredients in order by amount, with the largest amount listed first. See the list below for a list of types of added sugar that may appear on a Nutrition Facts Table. If one of these types is listed among the first few ingredients, the food or drink is probably high in added sugar.

Sugar can have many names.

Check the ingredient list of the Nutrition Facts Table on a food or drink package to look for the following added sugars:

• Agave syrup
• Brown sugar
• Cane juice and cane syrup
• Confectioners’ sugar
• Corn sweetener and corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Fructose
• Fruit juice concentrates
• Glucose
• Granulated white sugar
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Honey
• Invert sugar
• Lactose
• Maltose
• Malt syrup
• Molasses
• Raw sugar
• Sucrose
• Syrup

The Nutrition Facts Table says 40 grams of sugar per serving. What does that really mean?

The information listed on the Nutrition Facts Table can be confusing. When you read the amount of sugar in each serving, keep the following in mind:

• 1 gram of sugar equals 4 calories
• 4 grams of sugar equals 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of sugar

If the Nutrition Facts Table says that a food or drink contains 40 grams of sugar per serving, that information tells you that 1 serving contains 50 ml (10 teaspoons) of sugar and 160 calories.

What can I do to avoid added sugar in my diet?

Ways to avoid added sugar include the following:

• Limit or cut out candy, baked goods, and dairy desserts.
• Choose heart-healthy foods (for example, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains) for meals and snacks.
• Skip sugary drinks and choose water instead. A 355 ml (12-ounce) can of non-diet (regular) soda can contain 40 ml or more (8 or more teaspoons) of sugar and more than 130 calories.
• Cut out processed foods. These are often high in added sugar, fat, and sodium.
• Look for recipes that use less sugar when you are cooking or baking.

Bibliography

See a list of resources used in the development of this information:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/preventionwellness/food-nutrition/sugar-and-substitutes/added-sugar-what-you-need-to-know/bibliography.html