Learn the recommended daily sugar intake for 2026. WHO, AHA, and the new Dietary Guidelines all agree — here's what each limit means for your health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams of sugar per day is healthy?
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar daily for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men. The WHO recommends keeping free sugars below 25 grams per day for optimal health. These limits apply to added and free sugars only — not to naturally occurring sugar in whole fruit or dairy.
What is the recommended daily sugar intake for women vs. men?
The AHA recommends women limit added sugar to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day and men to 36 grams (9 teaspoons) per day. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines go further, stating no amount of added sugar is recommended as part of a healthy diet.
What is the difference between added sugar and natural sugar?
Natural sugars occur in whole foods — fructose in fruit, lactose in dairy — and come packaged with fiber, vitamins, and minerals that slow absorption. Added sugars are incorporated during processing and provide calories without that protective fiber matrix, causing faster blood glucose spikes and contributing more to chronic disease risk.
What did the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines say about sugar?
Released January 2026, the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that no amount of added sugars is recommended as part of a healthy dietary pattern. They also set a per-meal cap of 10 grams and recommend that children avoid added sugar until age 10 — the most stringent U.S. guidance ever on sugar.
Is 50 grams of sugar a day too much?
The FDA's Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams (based on a 2,000- calorie diet), which represents the upper ceiling — not a target. The AHA's tighter recommendations of 25 g for women and 36 g for men suggest that 50 grams per day is already above what is ideal for most adults, especially women.