Confused about sugar.

ohsoretro1

Hi everyone -- I'm hoping someone with some more experience than me can help me out. I've been tracking on and off for a while and have recently decided to track faithfully. I'm really surprised to see just how far over my sugar levels I am every day. MFP has set a goal of 38 for me and I'm pretty much doubling it every day. The major contributing factors for me are bananas, Larabars and dairy. I'm under the impression that these are "naturally occurring sugars" so they are ok. Is the 38 just for added sugar? Is there such a thing as too much naturally occurring sugar to take in daily? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

pastryari

Unless you have a medical reason to monitor your sugar intake, don't worry about it.

Just in case you weren't aware of this feature, when you go to the message boards section, there is a button called search and you can type in a keyword/phrase (ex: sugar) and you can see the threads that have already been created on the topic. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043701-consequences-of-being-over-on-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-16020904

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043401-sugar-weight-loss-advice?hl=sugar#posts-16015924

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043057-how-to-cut-out-more-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-16009722

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1043053-sugar-too-high?hl=sugar#posts-16008254

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042720-way-more-sugar-than-i-knew-what-to-eat-w-less-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-16005435

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042839-source-of-sugar-daily-allowance?hl=sugar#posts-16003852

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042457-sugar?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-16003038

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042763-over-sugar-protien-fat-under-cal?hl=sugar#posts-16002470

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042596-fats-sugar-sodium-protein-etc-what-s-the-deal?hl=sugar#posts-16002003

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041848-going-over-on-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15992842

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1042152-sugar-and-fat?hl=sugar#posts-15992420

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041790-how-many-grams-of-sugar-do-you-eat-in-a-day?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15992196

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041309-sugar-alotment-gone-at-breakfast?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15991893

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041950--sugar-in-fruit?hl=sugar#posts-15989197

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041848-going-over-on-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15987417

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041695-sugar-from-fruit-vs-processed-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15985749

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1041401-watching-your-sugar-intake?hl=sugar#posts-15978776

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1040838-how-important-is-tracking-sugar?hl=sugar&page=1#posts-15974385

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1040760-sugar-levels?hl=sugar#posts-15968638

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1040361-sugars?hl=sugar#posts-15967203

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1039611-im-always-over-on-my-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15950188

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/770178-wtf-sugars?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15940344

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1014251-already-reached-my-daily-sugar-intake-at-breakfast?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15545318

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1014521-sugars?hl=sugar#posts-15542055

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1003926-tracking-sugar-consumption?hl=sugar#posts-15534242

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1013649-always-exceeding-my-sugar-limit?hl=sugar#posts-15529923

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/527855-is-sugar-from-fruits-bad-for-you?hl=sugar

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1012076-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15521062

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/977172-sugar-intake?hl=sugar#posts-15518275

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1012942-is-it-bad-if-i-am-far-above-my-sugar-levels?hl=sugar#posts-15517710

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1012407-how-in-the-heck-does-anyone-manage-sugar?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15516532

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1012076-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15514862

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019795-sugar-and-fat-grams-and-carbs-and-calories-i-need-help?hl=sugar#posts-15633369

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019134-daily-sugar-goals?hl=sugar#posts-15631219

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1019134-daily-sugar-goals?hl=sugar#posts-15625352

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1018891-do-you-pay-attention-to-sodium-and-sugar-intake?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15625295

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1012255-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15505522

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1011803-sugar-from-fruit?hl=sugar#posts-15498367

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1010454-always-going-over-my-sugar-intake?hl=sugar#posts-15482167

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1010825-too-much-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15480045

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/527855-is-sugar-from-fruits-bad-for-you?hl=sugar&page=2#posts-15475495

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1010129-sugar-what-s-up-with-that?hl=sugar#posts-15471145

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1009986-sugar-are-mfp-numbers-too-low-or-am-i-too-high?hl=sugar#posts-15465436

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1009866-trouble-staying-under-daily-sugar-goal?hl=sugar#posts-15465407

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1009556-going-over-sugar-limit?hl=sugar#posts-15458423

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1008877-too-much-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15449389

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1008423-help-learning-the-ropes-too-much-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15439332

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1008354-tips-for-eating-less-sugar?hl=sugar#posts-15438719

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1020194-unrealistic-sugar-goals?hl=sugar#posts-15641971

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1020375-does-sugar-matter-while-heavy-lifting?hl=sugar#posts-15641952

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1020233-first-day-and-too-much-sugar-already?hl=sugar#posts-15639409

SanDoThis

Thanks for asking this same question, I would wonder the same thing daily but now feel better! :-)

cwolfman13

Is the 38 just for added sugar? Is there such a thing as too much naturally occurring sugar to take in daily? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Yes...and there is no formal, sanctioned recommendation for total sugar or naturally occurring sugar. If you don't have a medical condition which warrants monitoring your sugar intake, don't worry about it...unless you're just going bonkers on fruit (too much of a good thing can be a bad thing) and/or added sugars. The guideline is due to the fact that people have a propensity to drink gallons of soda like it's water and then wonder why they're insulin resistant and obese.

Manage your macros, not you micros. If you manage your overall carb intake the rest falls into place.

AlabasterVerve

yarwell put together a great sugar FAQ that gives some guidelines for total sugar, not just added. Well worth the read.

The EU have discussed a limit of 90g (18% of energy on a 2000 cal diet) for total sugars and observed that 45g is a typical adult intake of intrinsic or naturally occurring sugars from fruit, veg and dairy. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1008.pdf

Australia has a Dietary Recommended Intake value for total sugars of 90g per day, as has the EU (for a 2000 calorie diet - so 18% of energy). Annex 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1017237-so-what-s-with-this-sugar-then-faq