9 Tricks for Eating Less Sugar (Without Feeling Deprived)

Americans have a bit of a sugar problem. (And yes, that’s an understatement.) Experts want you to limit your sugar intake to 12 teaspoons a day — at the very max — but the average American consumes 17 teaspoons a day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

If cutting back on sugar were easy, people would already be doing it. It’s hidden in many of the processed foods we gravitate toward, so you have to look at food labels to see how much sugar your favorite foods actually contain. You should also consider these tips to cut out sugar from your diet without too much effort.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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