Too much sugar may sour your health. And, if you’re like most people, you’re getting more of the sweet substance than you realize or should probably have.

The World Health Organization recommends that adults keep sugar to under 10% of their total daily calories, and ideally less than 5%. That means:

• 25 grams – or roughly 6 teaspoons for women
• 38 grams – or about 9 teaspoons for men
• 12 to 25 grams – or 3 to 6 teaspoons for children

However, the average American takes in 19 ½ teaspoons every day – that amounts to 66 pounds of added sugar a year per person.

If you want to curb sugar consumption, consider:

• Limiting regular soda pop to once or twice a week and switching to fruit-infused water or tea sweetened with stevia as your go-to beverage treat.
• Having fruit for dessert.
• Avoiding processed foods where hidden sugar may lurk.
• Reading food labels on packaged foods and knowing sugar aliases.

For a list of other names that sugar goes by, visit Jul.HopeHealth.com/sugar.

Sources: Sugar Science; SecondsCount.org