How much is too much sugar for coffee?

Hi Guys,

I'm regular coffee drinker - with a max of 3 cups of black coffee 5 days a week. This is without sugar/cream. Now, I have started to add two tablespoon of sugar to my coffee and one of my co-workers was saying that it is way too much sugar - and sugar is bad for my health. Now, my question to you guys here is, for a large cup of black coffee from starbucks, will 2 tablespoons of white sugar have a negative impact on my fat loss?

Jr

Sugar isn't bad for you. Too much sugar is bad for you. There is a distinction. Glucose is brain food. Certainly, you should limit your intake of refined sugar, and if you can work in the extra calories based on your dietary needs, then it should be okay. Certainly, I would limit the intake.

If you are concerned, you can try some alternatives to sugar, most notably stevia. I would NOT advise you to substitute artificial sweeteners.

will 2 tablespoons of white sugar have a negative impact on my fat loss?

In my opinion, yes it would.
2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons x 3 times a day
A teaspoon of sugar is equal to 4 grams, so that would be 24 grams of sugar per cup, which 3 cups equals 72 grams of refined "added' sugar a day, just for your coffee.
Some research I have read on this subject shows that daily total intake of "added" sugar (refined) should be approx. 20 to 60 grams total, depending on your daily calorie needs.
This does not include how much sugar you are getting with natural fruits, or natural sugars in foods.
I agree with Lesplease...stevia (another name for it is "truvia") is a great natural sweetener to use in place of refined white sugar.

Hope this helps as a guideline.

Some research I have read on this subject shows that daily total intake of "added" sugar (refined) should be approx. 20 to 60 grams total, depending on your daily calorie needs.

Lynne -- Excellent point.
4kcal/g carb x 72g = 288kcal/day extra, just from coffee.

Also, the Canadian and American Dietetics have been working, for some time, to get the FDA and (Canadian affiliate w/e that is called. Hi I'm not Canadian.) to get people to consume more like 12g refined sugar/day. Many people would regard 20 as nearly 2x as much as is needed. (One of the RDs I've been studying under is *obsessed* with refined sugar intake as it relates to obesity, so this comes up a lot in conversation)

Please please do NOT confused refined sugar with fruit sugar! Fruit sugar comes with fiber, which is very very different than eating straight "added" sugar. "Natural" sugar, "Raw" sugar and honey are all simple sugars, and no one is better than another.

More information can be found at:
eatright.org
http://www.livestrong.com/too-much-sugar/
http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch001/ch001a.html
http://www.rodale.com/sugar-tax-drinks

This last one is an interesting article with some advice about eating v drinking sugar.

There is a LOT of research regarding the particular method of consumption. Part of it is physiological, and part of it is psychological, but the end result is, the more of your nutrient that comes from solids, the better off you are (yes, I am calling sugar a nutrient!). You will consume more if you caloric content comes from drink rather than food.

That being said, I repeat what I said earlier, I would rather have sugar than artificial sweeteners. There is a HUGE range of opinion on this, and if you are truly interested you are welcome to PM me, but I am firmly in the camp that artificials are worse than over-consuming.

Haha... ask a simple question (:

For years Sugar intake had no defined RDA, but recently I think it's been tentatively established at 70-90g per day, but that's from all sources, not just refined, bearing in mind even something like Tomatos have a bit in. That;'s why Ketchup is so sugary, and basically the crappiest way to get Tomato goodness.

P.S. what's the deal in America with Ketchup and Catsup, I've never been able to tell. Seems like they're one and the same maybe.

I've never seen Catsup in this country.

Guys,

Many thanks for all the response. I guess I will just have to gradually cut down on how much sugar I do consume with coffee. I've now started to use only 1 teaspoon of sugar with my black coffee. Let's see how that works for me.

Kind regards,
Jr

Best of luck! Sorry that sugar thing gets me kinda riled up. I love talkin' nutrition. (:

We all need our vices, so if you absolutely must have your sugar, then by all means have it and skip the snickers.