Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that can provide a rush of energy. This is due to the body's ability to quickly metabolize these compounds. Unfortunately, this rapid metabolic activity also contributes to sugar converting to fat, leading to weight gain and other weight-induced health complications. For people looking to reduce their sugar intake, or those on a low-sugar diet due to diseases like diabetes, reading the food labels may be deceiving. There are several ingredients that may be listed that don't necessarily say sugar, but actually are.
Sucrose
Sucrose is a synonym for common table sugar, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It may also appear as saccarose in some products. Common items that contain sucrose on the label include canned vegetables, maple syrup, packaged nuts and commercial fast food products.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
High-fructose corn syrup is a common sweetener and preservative. It forms by altering the glucose in cornstarch to fructose, according to MayoClinic.com. This creates a combination of fructose and glucose, two forms of sugar. This ingredient is a common and unhealthy ingredient in items like soda, fruit juice, heavy syrup and processed foods. High-fructose corn syrup is a particular concern for children as it is one of the leading causes of childhood obesity, according to KidsHealth. Consuming fresh fruits and complex carbohydrates, like whole grains and starchy vegetables can provide essential nutritional value without the sugary addition of this ingredient.
Dextrose
Dextrose is actually a refined corn, wheat or rice sugar that acts as both a sweetener and preservative in food industries. With its introduction into the food market in 1922, dextrose is regularly added to a variety of food products like cereal, frozen fruits, pickles and olives, according to the article "Dextrose in the Food Industries and Its Health Status" in the "American Journal of Public Health." It is available as anhydrous made under high-heat conditions or monohydrate meaning liquid.
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