All About Added Sugar

Sugar Sugar, Added Sugar…

Sugars are carbohydrates which are divided into two categories ”added sugars” and “naturally occurring sugars”.  

Added sugars are defined as all sugars and syrups that are added to foods during processing or preparation. 

Naturally occurring sugars are those naturally present in whole foods such as lactose in milk or fructose in fruits.

There are various names and forms which added sugars can be added to food products, these include:

• Brown sugar

• Raw sugar

• Caster sugar

• Sugar molecules ending in “ose” (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose)

• Honey

• High-fructose corn syrup

• Golden syrup

• Maple syrup

• Corn sweetener

• Corn syrup

• Fruit juice concentrates

• Molasses

• Syrup 

Despite the large variety of names - they will all ultimately have the same effect in the body. 

While naturally occurring sugars present in whole foods such as fruits should not be of concern, it is imperative that we are mindful of the amount of added sugars we consume every day.