Is Sugar safe during pregnancy?

Sweets & sweeteners

Limit to 25 to 30 g a day

ICMR-NIN says sugar should be restricted to 25 to 30 g a day in pregnancy, and avoided by overweight pregnant women.[1,2]

What official sources say

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Sugar may be eaten in pregnancy, but it must be restricted to 25 to 30 grams a day. (p. 17)[1]
  • Added sugar must be kept below 5% of daily energy intake in pregnancy. (p. 17)[1]
  • Pregnant women who are overweight should avoid added sugars. (p. 16)[1]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Sugary foods and drinks are often high in calories, which can add to weight gain, and they can also cause tooth decay.[2]

Related general rules

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods and drinks during processing or preparation, including table sugar, jaggery, honey, glucose, fructose and dextrose. (p. 94) (general-population advice, not specific to pregnancy)[1]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy385 kcal
Protein0 g
Sugars99.8 g
Iron0.05 mg
Calcium1 mg
Sodium1 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Sugars, granulated (FDC ID 746784), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed pages 16, 17, 94. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
  2. NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.