Really you can do without ANY refined sugar. You get sugar naturally from many varieties of fruit and vegetables. If you want a specific measure the World Health Organization gives 6 teaspoons (Around 25 grams) as the daily limit for sugar. To get an idea of that one tablespoon of ketchup contains 4 grams of sugar.
Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse
The spike in blood sugar levels that can come after a meal is controlled by the brain's neuronal mitochondria, which are considered the 'powerhouse of cells,' researchers found in a new study. The findings could provide a better understanding of how type 2 diabetes develops. Ref. Source 8b.
The down side of your sweet and salty addiction: Rapid onset high blood pressure?
High levels of fructose similar to amounts consumed within the American diet may predispose individuals to fast-onset, salt-sensitive hypertension, according to new research. Ref. Source 9b.
Treating sugar addiction like drug abuse
Millions of people globally are overweight or obese and sugar is considered a major factor. Now a world-first game-changing study suggests drugs used to treat tobacco addiction could work for sugar addiction too. Ref. Source 8b.
Ask someone to eat and drink without sugar and they will go crazy. They will desperately seek it after more than a day making them look like an addict. You might think sugar is limited to just candy and soda but food processors put sugar in everything! You will also be amazed how much sugar they add as part of the ingredients. Society has become addicted to sugar simply from buying foods out of supermarkets and groceries. As covered in this Thread - sugar has a negative effect on the brain thus reinforcing the addiction.