Date sugar is a more natural and nutrient dense sweetener than sugar or other sweetener alternatives with a low glycemic index and medium glycemic load (meaning it's less likely to spike blood sugar). Like all sweeteners, date sugar needs to be consumed in moderation. Excessive added sugar intake is associated with adverse health conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory diseases. Excessive sugar consumption may trigger neuroadaptations in the brain that decouple eating behavior from caloric needs and leads to compulsive overeating. The American Heart Association suggests an added-sugar limit of no more than 24 grams of sugar for most women and no more than 36 grams of sugar for most men each day. Along with many other fruit sugars, they often contain of heavy metals.