Non-Nutritious Sugar Intake Recommendation

General Recommendations

Most Americans eat more sugar than what’s recommended, which may be why obesity rates are so high in the U.S. According to the American Heart Association, while most people in the U.S. eat about 22.2 teaspoons of added sugars each day, most men should limit sugar to 9 teaspoons and women should generally aim for a maximum of 6 teaspoons—or less—per day. However, your individualized recommendation for added sugar intake is based on your total calorie needs. The American Heart Association recommends you limit added sugars to no more than half of your discretionary calorie allowance set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010.

1,200-Calorie Diets

Most women can lose weight following diets containing 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day, while active women and women weighing more than 164 pounds may need 1,200 to 1,600 calories per day for successful weight loss, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If you’re following a 1,200-calorie weight loss diet, your discretionary calorie allowance set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 is 120 calories, meaning your added sugar intake shouldn’t exceed 60 calories, or 15 grams, each day.

1,800-Calorie Diets

Most sedentary women seeking to maintain their body weight need about 1,800 calories per day, according to the Dietary Guidelines 2010. If you fall into this category and eat 1,800 calories a day, your discretionary calorie allowance is 160 calories; therefore, aim to limit your added sugar consumption to 80 calories, or 20 grams, per day.

2,400-Calorie Diets

If you’re an active woman, which means you exercise the equivalent of walking more than 3 miles per day, you probably need about 2,200 to 2,400 calories a day to maintain your weight, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. If you eat 2,400 calories a day, your discretionary calorie allowance is 330 calories; this means you should limit added sugars to 165 calories, or about 41 grams, per day.