Simple Rule for Controlling a Sweet Tooth

How much of the sweet stuff can you have without blowing a healthful eating plan?

If you want to ward off excess pounds and heart disease, heart experts recommend you use this simple cap: 100 calories. That's about how many calories' worth of added sugar you should limit yourself to each day.

Sugar Overload
Actually, it's 100 calories for women, 150 for men (lucky fellas). And an "added sugar" would be any sugar that's been added to foods or beverages during processing or preparation, be it sweetened yogurts, cereals, or candies. Unfortunately, most Americans get about 430 calories of added sugars daily -- enough extra to easily contribute to the growing pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease. (Stop sugar cravings with this advice from the YOU Docs.)

The Sweet Solution
So what does 100 mean in real-world terms? About a can of cola, actually. A 12-ounce can of sweetened soda has roughly 130 calories of added sugars. That means if you have a can of ginger ale, you've hit -- or more likely passed -- your daily limit. So use those discretionary calories wisely. And don't let them crowd out the nutritious things in life, like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. (Discover how much weight you could lose by ditching sugar-sweetened beverages.)

Need a nibble? Here are 10 satisfying (and healthful) 100-calorie treats.