eat. leanne gregg reports. >> reporter: the nation's love affair with sugar is not so sweet when considering its potentially impact on health. >> obesity is practically an epidemic and obesity is almost root and cause for a lot of the diseases. especially heart disease. >> reporter: on average, americans consumed 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. 335 calories. that equals two cans of soda and a chocolate bar. the american heart association says that's too muc and recommends a dramatic decrease in sugar intake. for women six teaspoons or 100 calories a day and for men, nine teaspoons or 150 calories. >> there's a lot of excess sugar that's out there in our diet that's going to be very difficult for us to eliminate. >> reporter: sugar andth er sweeteners are added not only to treats like these but to frozen dishes and energy drinks and cereal and a list of other foods many may think is good for you. >> if we are already getting sugar we need from our fruits and our vegetables and our