Sugar is present in a lot of foods, for a variety of reasons. Of course, it adds flavor, can balance tartness and provide sweetness, but it can also help preserve foods. It provides fuel for fermentation as well, enabling chemical reactions that can be important such as the rising of bread. It can add texture and bulk to food too.
But while it's good for baking and producing processed foods, sugar is not good for our health. The Mayo Clinic warns that when our diet includes too much sugar, we can become overweight, which in itself causes a variety of health issues. Sugars can also cause tooth decay and increase our risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends a limit of 100 calories from added sugars per day for women, and 150 for men.
If you are looking to reduce sugar in your diet, check out the video, which provides a lot of helpful tips about how to spot added sugar, and how to reduce sugar in your diet. One suggestion is to check your drinks; diet drinks can actually cause sugar cravings.