How Much Should I Pay Attention to Sugar Intake?

dpr73
dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
If my sugar intake is like 70% from fruits, how much should I keep track of sugar? I usually go over by nearly 30 grams on days when I have extra fruit in my diet! How many of you actually pay attention to this number? Obviously it is important for maybe diabetics or people who eat refined sugars, but what about people in my situation?

Replies

  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    My advice? ignore it. Watch overall carbs/protein/fat if that's your bag, otherwise just watch your calories. If it's working for you, no worries.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Pay zero attention to it, pay attention to overall carb intake instead.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Pointless to track it unless you have medical issues as it's just a sub-set of carbs.
    I track fibre instead.
  • JohnSmith474
    JohnSmith474 Posts: 4
    Not at all, but mind you 1 Teaspoon of Sugar is equivalent to 15 calories, so they do add up. If you have more than 3 teaspoons of sugar count it in your food, otherwise don't worry about it.
  • mailroomclerk
    mailroomclerk Posts: 70
    Pointless to track it unless you have medical issues as it's just a sub-set of carbs.
    I track fibre instead.

    Same with the fiber tracking. If I'm eating sugary stuff (simple sugars; fruit, soda etc.) it will either be right before or directly after I work out.
  • kwantlen2051
    kwantlen2051 Posts: 455 Member
    If my sugar intake is like 70% from fruits, how much should I keep track of sugar? I usually go over by nearly 30 grams on days when I have extra fruit in my diet! How many of you actually pay attention to this number? Obviously it is important for maybe diabetics or people who eat refined sugars, but what about people in my situation?

    I would suggest keeping an eye on it nonetheless as sugar is also carb. Too much of it even though from a good source such as fruits will not help you lose weight.
  • dpr73
    dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
    Well i am just trying to maintain. If my calories check out should I even worry excessively about my macros being off on occasion? For example, today my carbs are higher than my recommended (about 60% instead of 50%) is that okay? My protein is very high as well.
  • CycleCarolina
    CycleCarolina Posts: 23 Member
    You missed a recent forum circus, about the evils of sugar. I'm wondering how long it'll take, to revive the battle.

    Sugar has 16kCal per teaspoon. Seems pretty innocent, to me.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    The only way to gain weight is in a calorie surplus, not an excess of any one macro/micro. I'd say as long as you're mostly balanced and getting enough other nutrients, I wouldn't worry. Also, we all have bad days a few crazy macro days aren't an issue. Life.
  • dpr73
    dpr73 Posts: 495 Member
    I am staying under calories so the calories in sugar aren't what concerns me. I am more concerned if there are other health effects to having high sugar levels even if they are from natural sugars. I stay in my allowed calories anyway.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I am staying under calories so the calories in sugar aren't what concerns me. I am more concerned if there are other health effects to having high sugar levels even if they are from natural sugars. I stay in my allowed calories anyway.

    I think the verdict is still out............the new studies on too much sugar and heart health....yikes!

    I don't track sugar....but trying more to limit added sugar. Added sugar is a trigger for me.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I am staying under calories so the calories in sugar aren't what concerns me. I am more concerned if there are other health effects to having high sugar levels even if they are from natural sugars. I stay in my allowed calories anyway.

    Hitting or being close to hitting my macro goals is important to me...it is important to body composition and important from a training aspect. If you are going over carbs all of the time then you aren't going to be hitting your protein and/or fat macros which are far more essential from a nutritional standpoint.

    There's nothing inherently wrong with carbs or sugar, but you should be getting a well balanced diet. I get around 40-45% of my calories from carbohydrates and that is plenty for me...If I was getting 60% of my diet from carbs, I would be very low on my protein and fats....which again, are far more important from a nutritional standpoint.

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