As an athlete I try very hard to limit my sugar intake to a minimum. The only things I eat that are high in it when I'm training/racing is energy gels, which are just pure glucose (sugar) to keep you going on the ride. Sugar by itself is not bad for you in moderation. Things like honey, jam, sugar sprinkled over cereal is not harmful at all (in moderation!) It is the artificial sweeteners which are used in it's place in almost everything that are the real killers. Things like soda, candy, etc are soooo bad for you and you ingest so much artificial additives that our bodies do not know how to break down. For most people, simply cutting out soda and sugary snacks from their diet (or at least to only a few per week) see's massive health benefits such as weight loss, increased energy, and better sleep.