What’s the deal with added sugar consumption?

The rules around sugar can be confusing when all you hear is, “sugar is bad for you, eat less.”

It's important to understand the difference between natural sugars and added sugars. Natural sugars are found in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. They are an intrinsic part of these foods and not added during processing. Examples of natural sugars include fructose in fruit and lactose in milk.

When you consume natural sugars in whole foods, you also benefit from the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

“Added sugars” are added during processing or preparation. Even if they are “natural,” they’re still added (like honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, coconut sugar, etc.) Added sugars are commonly found in sugary drinks, baked goods, candies, and many processed foods