When looking at the ingredient list on food labels, you may come across various types of sugars. Here are some common sugars and sweeteners that you might find listed:
1. **Sucrose:** This is table sugar, which is made up of glucose and fructose. It's one of the most common sugars used in foods and beverages.
2. **High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS):** HFCS is a sweetener made from corn starch. It's often used in processed foods and soft drinks.
3. **Glucose:** Glucose is a simple sugar and is a primary source of energy for the body. It's sometimes added to foods and can also occur naturally in some ingredients.
4. **Fructose:** Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruits, honey, and some vegetables. It's also used as a sweetener in processed foods.
5. **Lactose:** Lactose is the sugar naturally found in milk and dairy products.
6. **Maltose:** Maltose is a sugar that forms when starches break down, often found in malted foods and beverages.
7. **Dextrose:** Dextrose is a form of glucose often used as a sweetener in processed foods. It's also known as glucose or corn sugar.
8. **Honey:** Honey is a natural sweetener made by bees, primarily consisting of glucose and fructose.
9. **Maple Syrup:** Maple syrup is a natural sweetener made from the sap of sugar maple trees.
10. **Agave Nectar:** Agave nectar is a sweetener derived from the agave plant, primarily composed of fructose.
11. **Brown Sugar:** Brown sugar is a combination of white sugar and molasses, which gives it a distinctive flavor and color.
12. **Molasses:** Molasses is a byproduct of sugar refining and is often used as a sweetener in baking.
Keep in mind that sugars can go by various names on ingredient lists, so it's essential to be aware of the different terms used to describe sugars when reading food labels. Additionally, the position of sugar in the ingredient list can give you an idea of its relative quantity in the product, with ingredients listed first being present in higher amounts.