Tag: Refined vs natural sugar

According to the American Heart Association, excessive intake of added sugars is a primary driver of weight gain and several chronic health issues, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Given the wide variety of sweeteners available, from refined white sugar to natural alternatives, it's increasingly difficult to determine which, if any, is the 'best' option for overall health.

According to the World Health Organization, limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake is part of a healthy diet. This raises a critical question for many: Is sugar from fruits enough for the body, or do we need more diverse carbohydrate sources? The answer lies in understanding how the body processes sugar from different sources.

Studies show the average American consumes over 17 teaspoons of added sugar daily, more than twice the recommended amount. Understanding which is the healthiest type of sugar can help drastically reduce this intake and improve overall health, but the answer is more nuanced than it appears.

According to the American Heart Association, the average American consumes 2 to 3 times the recommended daily amount of added sugar, but does this apply to natural sources too? The question of whether is non-processed sugar good for you is surprisingly complex, depending on the source and how your body processes it.