Sugar is a carbohydrate which takes many forms. Food manufacturers are known to use many descriptions other than sugar, so even if an ingredient label does not mention sugar specifically, it does not mean that the food does not contain any.
Here are some of the more common descriptions for sugar, but this is notan exhaustive list:
- Amazake
- Brown sugar
- Carob powder
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Evaporated cane juice
- Fructose
- Fruit juice concentrate
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Honey
- Maltose
Having said that, every Nutrition Facts label does allow you to get a sense of how much sugar you are really eating and you can find this information under the Total Carb. category where sugars are listed in grams. Every 4 grams is roughly equivalent to a teaspoon of sugar.
To keep all of this in perspective, it’s helpful to remember the American Heart Association’s recommendations for sugar intake.
- Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day.
- For women, the number is lower: 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day. Consider that one 12-ounce can of soda contains 8 teaspoons (32 grams) of added sugar! There goes your whole day’s allotment in one slurp.
Please note that the content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease.
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