Just how bad is sugar?

Sugar is my JAM son

Oh good grief...

Also in for how people shouldn't eat fruit and veg because they have sugar...

No, there's no truth to it.*





*Unless you have a medical reason to restrict sugar intake.

Your body is a dual fuel engine, you can burn sugar or fat. The only bad thing about sugar is it is easy to overeat but it is a great source of quick energy.

As good or bad as any other nutrient. If eaten to excess (depending on the person), it can be problematic. If not, no problemo...

Well it depends. If these sites that say you should limit yourself to 24 g sugar cite evidence that you trust, or if you have a specific reason to want to limit your sugars (so you can save more calories for protein, for example, or if you think you might be experiencing blood sugar issues, diabetes runs in the family, etc.) then that's a choice you have to make for yourself. I'm sure you know that will mean not purchasing processed foods with added sugars or fruit-derived sweetness (yogurt, bread, and especially any kind of sauce or condiment!) and cutting back on high-sugar fruits in favor of non-starchy vegetables. But I'm in agreement with everyone else, your diet sounds healthful and conducive to weight loss even if you have ~80g sugar. Personally, I try to keep sugar and other carbs down to save for protein because I strength train and have a 1200 calorie goal

I don't think that amount is bad. Now I feel a bit worse for that can of Mountain Dew I had yesterday though.

The main reason for the recommendations to limit added sugar to levels like 24 g (which doesn't include lactose or sugar in fruit anyway) is because it contains few nutrients and tends to be in foods that are calorie dense. Thus, it is (reasonably) believed to be part of why people tend to eat too many calories and gain weight, and should not replace other parts of a healthy diet, like protein or micronutrients.

But this is a very generic recommendation. If you happen to be someone who actually counts calories and watches your diet more carefully (hmm, why might that be?), then you don't have to worry that you are accidently eating sugar in place of veggies or adequate protein or consuming more calories than you'd like. So, barring a specific health issue, I wouldn't worry about it.

I personally tend to eat "added sugars" in moderation because that's simply how those foods fit into my diet, and I also don't feel as well eating tons of them and skimping on other foods (not that you are doing this) and find that carbs in general work better for me when eaten close in time to protein and fat anyway. But the anti sugar fervor some have has gotten insane.