I would first of all like to mention that this is a follow-up series from my last month’s blog; Are you addicted to SUGAR?
Well, I’m guessing you took the test I asked you to take, if you did, then you should be more aware by now of how important it is to know if you’re taking in lots of sugar or not.
Today, I want us to talk about something else; Alternative names to “Sweeteners”. “SUGAR” has so far become one of the most disguised ingredient manufacturers’ uses in their products. It’s almost like they are trying to conceal it as part of the product ingredients even though it is listed on the nutritional label. The fact that you do not see the term “SUGAR” on the list of ingredients does not guarantee that the item is sugar-free or does not contain sweeteners.
There are a variety of names that are used to refer to sugar thereby making it easy for manufacturers to hide how much sugar they have added to their product. There are a whopping 56 different names for sugar. While some of these names are more obvious, like brown and cane sugar, others are obscured and difficult to spot (e.g. Maltodextrin and dextrose).
It is frightening to know that over 68% of barcoded food products sold in the US contain added sweeteners, even though some of them are labeled as “natural” or “healthy”. The best way to make sure you’re not falling for their trick is to develop the habit of always scanning the ingredient list of the product for sugar alternative names before you throw the item in your shopping cart. Always keep in mind that ingredients are usually listed by quantity from highest to lowest: the higher on the list you find any form of sugar, the more the product contains it.
All of the 56 names listed below are alternative names for SUGAR, don’t be fooled.
Note: The fact that you spot any of these names on the label of any product does not automatically mean that it’s a no-go. What’s important is the quantity of sugar it contains.
If the total carbohydrate count is 1–2 grams, then it’s still fine for you to have such products, especially if you’re following a low carb lifestyle. For example, many keto-friendly salad dressings include a pinch of sugar with 1–2 grams total carbs—these are still healthy for consumption
Have Fun with it at the health store or supermarket and let me know which of the names you were able to spot first. It actually takes some practice before you can master it!
With Gratitude, Happy reading!