Your body uses the sugar glucose along with oxygen to generate energy. Although glucose is a common component in many whole and processed foods, you have many glucose-free food options. When preparing your nutrition plan, keep in mind that the most healthful diets are those that include a variety of choices from each of the recommended food groups.
Meat and Poultry
Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck and other animal meats contain no glucose or other sugars. The primary nutrient in meats and poultry is whole protein, which provides your body with all of the essential protein building blocks, or amino acids. These foods also contain significant amounts of various vitamins and minerals. A potential nutritional disadvantage of meats and poultry are the fats and cholesterol in these foods. You can reduce the amount of fat consumed by removing the skin from poultry and choosing lean cuts of meat.
Eggs
Eggs are a nutritious, glucose-free food. As an animal-derived food, eggs are a source of whole protein. Although glucose is the preferred fuel for your cells, your body can use protein from eggs and other foods to generate energy, if needed. Because the yolks contain most of the fat in eggs, eating the whites instead of whole eggs markedly reduces the cholesterol and fat consumed.
Fish and Seafood
Fish and seafood, such as crab, shrimp, lobster and scallops, are glucose-free foods that supply your body with protein, vitamins and minerals. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat at least two 3.5-oz. servings of fish each week. Certain types of fish, including albacore tuna, mackerel, trout, salmon, herring and sardines, contain high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help slow the buildup of fat deposits in your arteries.
Sugar-Free Processed Foods
Several food manufacturers produce sugar-free foods, marketed to people living with diabetes and those trying to reduce the carbohydrates in their diets. Be aware that foods labeled "sugar-free" may contain trace amounts of glucose or other sugars, under FDA regulations. Foods that contain less than 0.5 g of sugar per serving can be labeled "sugar-free" because the amount of sugar present is considered metabolically insignificant.
You have many sugar-free, processed food choices, which often contain one or more artificial sweeteners. Sugar-free products include soft drinks, candy, cookies, crackers, bread, baked good mixes, frozen desserts and pudding and gelatin mixes. Keep in mind that "sugar-free" does not mean free of calories. Check the label to determine the caloric and nutritional content of sugar-free foods.
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18: Carbohydrate, by Difference (g) Content of Selected Foods per Common Measure
- American Heart Association: Fish 101
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Definitions of Nutrient Content Claims
