A teaspoon of sugar is approximately 4 grams. This means that 40 grams of sugar equals 10 teaspoons. By dividing 40 grams by 4 grams, you would get how many teaspoons make 40 grams of sugar. To calculate the number of teaspoons of sugar in a product, divide it by 4, and you can visualize how many teaspoons of sugar you’re consuming daily.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a maximum of 50 grams of sugar (12.5 teaspoons) based on a 2000 calorie daily diet, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) for optimal health. Most of the foods we consume surpass the WHO’s recommendation, and some surpass the FDA’s recommendation. Let’s take a look at some popular foods and their sugar content in teaspoons listed below.
A 22 ounce bottled Coke contains 7. 5 teaspoons of sugar. With a bottle of coke, you’ve passed the WHO’s recommendation and are on your way to hitting the recommended guideline by the FDA. A 14-inch slice of Pizza contains 9 teaspoons of sugar. Pair this pizza with a 22 ounce bottled coke, and you’ve passed the daily limit by the FDA. A cup of Orange Juice contains 7. 5 teaspoons of sugar. A 16-ounce thick chocolate milkshake contains 24 teaspoons of sugar. That is a lot of sugar. I like to have my milkshake with pizza slices, and I don’t think I’m strong enough to give it up. I could try, but I might fail. A 112-gram bar of dark chocolate has 15 teaspoons of sugar in it. An 8. 4 ounce of canned Red Bull contains approximately 9 teaspoons of sugar.
I’m sure some of you might be in a frenzy now, trying to calculate how much sugar you’ve been taking daily. This is not intended to cause panic or make you stop eating your favorite foods. This is supposed to provide you with the knowledge to ensure you’re eating right and selecting the best products for yourself. Also, reducing the number of processed foods you consume a day is advisable because excessive sugar intake has been linked to health complications such as diabetes and obesity.
I’d also recommend using USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference to check out the amount of sugar in foods (raw and processed). It also provides you with the nutritional content of each food. So, if you ever feel unsure of the content of a certain food, visit USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference for confirmation.
