New WHO Guidelines Advises Halving Sugar Intake to Six Teaspoons Per Day

It might be difficult to sugarcoat, but how much sugar should you actually be consuming? A bit more than half of what you're probably used to, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. While in the past the WHO recommended that sugar stay below 10 percent of your total calorie intake per day, the organization now recommends that 5 percent should be the target of your daily calorie consumption.

According to The Washington Post, the health organization came up with these new guidelines after reviewing around 9,000 studies regarding the drop of sugar intake that could potentially help combat both obesity and cavities. And don't think raw sugar is the only thing you'll need to look for in your diet. Certain foods such as fruit juices, honey and syrups fit the bill, as well.

"There is increasing concern that consumption of free sugars -- particularly in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages -- increases overall energy intake and may reduce the intake of foods containing more nutritionally adequate calories," stated the WHO, via a press release.

As the last time the WHO revised its sugar guidelines was over a decade ago, researchers stress the importance of restricting sugar intake, as it can increase weight gain as well as the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes, according to Reuters.

But the question remains. Exactly how much sugar can you have? According to the new guidelines, that's five percent of your total energy intake for a normal adult, which means a mere 25 grams (or around six teaspoons) of sugar per day. This could mean a great impact on the manufacturers of some of our favorite treats that are loaded with sugar.

Are you consuming too much sugar? What do you think?