If you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake, there’s a good chance that you’ve come across some of the different names for white refined sugar. It can be difficult to identify which ingredients are actually added sugars. To help navigate this tricky area of nutrition, let’s look at some of the hidden names for white refined sugar.
The Many Hidden Names For White Refined Sugar
White refined sugar goes by many names, some of which may not be obvious at first glance. Here are a few of the commonly used terms you may encounter when looking at nutrition labels:
- Sucrose
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Maltose
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) - Dextrose
These are just a few of the many names for white refined sugars that you might find on nutrition labels. Be sure to read labels carefully to determine if an ingredient is truly sugar or if it's something else entirely. Some foods, such as fruit and dairy products, contain naturally occurring sugars that don't need to be avoided in most cases. However, added sugars should generally be limited as part of a healthy diet.
It's also important to note that there are various forms and types of sugar available on the market today. This includes cane sugar, beet sugar, brown sugar, and coconut sugar, among others. Each type has slightly different nutritional properties and potential health benefits or risks depending on how it is used and consumed. For example, brown sugar contains more minerals than refined white sugar but still has similar levels of calories and carbohydrates per serving size. Similarly, coconut sugar contains more nutrients than refined cane or beet sugars but is still considered high in calories and carbohydrates overall.