Names for Sugar

Names for Sugar

In recent years, we have become more health conscious and label savvy. In response, food companies have found a way to make a product ingredient list look better than it really is. For instance, in the case of sweetener, instead of listing “sugar” as the first, and therefore most plentiful ingredient, even when it predominates, they will use several different forms of sugar, which can be listed separately and further down on the list.

Sugar by another name

If you are trying to cut down on sugar or have medical issues that necessitate avoiding sugar, you need to be aware of these other terms for sugar. Even if you don’t have these medical problems, be aware that separating the sugars into different names may make the food look like it has less sugar than it really does. The best way to know how much sugar is in the product is to check the “Sugars” category under “Carbohydrates” on the Nutrition portion of the food label. Click here for more information on reading food labels.

Here is a list of added sugars that you might find on a food label:

Click here for a printable copy of this list.

Conventional wisdom says that there is no difference between eating processed sugar like white table sugar or corn syrup, and eating the more natural forms like fruit sugar and honey. This may be true with regard to calories and the effect on your blood sugar, but naturally occurring sugars have qualities that are not found in processed sugars. They are whole foods that cannot be synthesized. We may not have discovered all the characteristics that make them special, but I am convinced that they are still a better choice than their processed step-cousins.

Glycemic Index

There is another issue with regard to carbohydrates that has become popular in recent years. This is something called the Glycemic Index. This is a way of measuring how fast the sugar from carbohydrates gets into your bloodstream. This may be important in weight loss and control of diabetes, because of its affect on insulin, the hormone produced by your pancreas that allows the glucose to enter the cells and provide energy. Generally the simpler the carbohydrate, the more quickly it is broken down and shows up as glucose in your blood.

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Names for Sugar Names for Sugar Names for Sugar