The American Heart Association explained that natural sugars are those that occur in food in its natural state, while added sugars are sweeteners added during food processing. These can include ingredients such as corn sweeteners, fruit juice concentrates, honey, high fructose corn syrup, and plain sugar listed on the label. To maintain a healthy heart and control weight, the American Heart Association recommended reducing the amount of added sugars in your diet.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, no more than 10% of your calories should come from added sugar, which amounts to about 50 grams if you take in 2,000 calories a day. There is no recommendation for total sugars in your diet. The Food and Drug Administration now requires nutrition labels to disclose how much added sugar is in food or drinks. These labels provide the percentage of added sugar in a 2,000-calorie diet, so you can make better food choices. A food with more than 20% of the daily calories from added sugars is considered a high source of added sugar.