By now you may have heard that the 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines are advising Americans to keep added sugars to no more than 10 percent of their daily calories because of its strong relationship with obesity , type 2 diabetes and dental cavities . This is the first time in its 35-year history that the guidelines have ever advised a hard limit on added sugar -- a praiseworthy first step, but one thats long overdue and doesnt go as far as the World Health Organizations 5 percent recommendation .

For a person who eats about 2,000 calories a day, 10 percent of added sugars is about 50 grams, or 12 teaspoons a day. Currently, added sugar makes up about 13 percent of the average Americans daily calories, and most of it comes from drinks like soda, juice, sweetened coffee and tea, energy drinks and alcohol. Cakes, pies, cookies and other desserts make up another big chunk of the added sugar Americans eat, and kids and teens eat the most of it.