Did You Know?

Sugar is a naturally occurring component in many healthy foods, including fruit. But people looking to eat healthy should be wary of foods that contain added sugars, which can pose a significant threat to long-term health. According to the Harvard Medical School, added sugars are not currently listed on Nutrition Facts labels. That can make it hard to spot foods that contain substantial amounts of added sugars. However, the HMS recommends looking at the ingredients listings on food labels and keeping an eye out for words ending in 'ose.' The Mayo Clinic notes that fructose, dextrose, glucose and maltose are the chemical names for various types of sugar. These ingredients can serve as a red flag that a product contains added sugars that can be detrimental to your overall health. In addition to words ending in 'ose,' shoppers can scan ingredients for other common types of added sugars, including cane juice, cane syrup, corn sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate and nectars, honey, malt or maple syrup, and molasses.