Recognizing the Many Aliases of Sugar

With today’s processed foods and eating-on-the-go culture, sugar is making an appearance in all types of foods marketed as healthier options. It may be somewhat difficult to spot the saturation of sugar in all types of foods you might eat every day, so you should learn the other names that sugar can take on as you take control of your health . Below are some of sugar’s many disguises that you might encounter on food labels.

Syrup

Agave, corn, maple, and rice syrups are all commonly used ingredients in foods that pose as health food choices. Because their names are of vegetable and plant sources, it is often assumed that these sugars are better for your health than simple cane sugar. In reality, these types of sugar are just as fattening as table sugar, and they have none of the nutritional value of the plants they come from.

Sucrose

When you read food labels, it is rare that you will actually come across the word ‘sugar.’ Instead, you might see sucrose, which is the scientific name for the familiar white powder more commonly known as table sugar. Fructose and glucose are the components of sucrose, and these are more words to watch out for.

Fruit Juice

Fruit juice is one of the most deceptive forms of sugar, because it is assumed that the juice takes on the nutritional qualities of the fruit it comes from. However, fruit juice is mostly a source of sugar and not much else. Even if some vitamins remain present in the juice, it no longer contains the fiber found in whole fruit which can help digest the sugar properly. All kinds of juice—from concentrate, organic, and 100% juices—are big sugar sources that should be traded in for the whole raw fruit.  

Evaporated Cane Juice

Prepackaged foods are carefully designed for trickery, and the use of the words, evaporated cane juice” is proof that labels can be deceiving. Evaporated cane juice is exactly the same as regular sugar, but it sneaks into many diets because of this misleading wording.

At Optimum Health Institute , we will help guide you through the proper steps to take in eating and preparing food so that you get the most out of a vibrant raw diet to cleanse your body. The holistic healing program at Optimum Health Institute consists of three-week-long sessions that can be taken consecutively or independently. The sessions interlock classes and activities drawn from 24 ancient spiritual disciplines that promote healing of your body, mind, and spirit. Along with learning how to cleanse and nourish the body with diet, fasting, and exercise, guests learn how to quiet and focus the mind with journaling and meditation, plus renew and awaken their spirits with study, prayer, and celebration. To learn more about the OHI program, call (800) 993-4325 or visit www.optimumhealth.org.