Last updated October 24, 2018 by Lisa Richards, CNC

56 Names For Sugar: Are You Eating More Than You Realize?

56 names for sugar

In the past few years we’ve seen a gradual realization that sugar is behind the rising levels of conditions like Diabetes, Candida, chronic inflammation and more. Many nutritionists and doctors now recommend eliminating refined sugars entirely, and indeed many people are going further and limiting consumption of all forms of sugar.

However, adopting a low sugar diet is not always as easy as it sounds, and food labeling is often to blame.

An ingredient label might contain no mention of ‘sugar’, but that is actually no guarantee at all. There are lots of substances that taste, act, and affect us in the same way that refined sugar does – just without the name. There are some you will have heard of, like high fructose corn syrup, but that is far from the only example.

A prime example from recent years is the misleading labeling of Vitaminwater, which has been persistently promoted as a health food but is in fact quite the opposite.

Here is a list of 56 names for sugar, many of which you might not even recognize. Be sure to look out for them when you next read an ingredient label!

Free Guide To Beating Candida
56 Names For Sugar
Barley maltDehydrated cane juiceGolden sugarMolasses
Barbados sugarDemerara sugarGolden syrupMuscovado
Beet sugarDextranGrape sugarPanocha
Brown sugarDextroseHigh fructose corn syrupPowdered sugar
Buttered syrupDiastatic maltHoneyRaw sugar
Cane juiceDiataseIcing sugarRefiner’s syrup
Cane sugarEthyl maltolInvert sugarRice syrup
CaramelFree flowing brown sugarsLactoseSorbitol
Corn syrupFructoseMaltSorghum syrup
Corn syrup solidsFruit juiceMaltodextrinSucrose
Confectioner’s sugarFruit juice concentrateMaltoseSugar (granulated)
Carob syrupGalactoseMalt syrupTreacle
Castor sugarGlucoseMannitolTurbinado sugar
Date sugarGlucose solidsMaple syrupYellow sugar

Some of these you will recognize as sugar, but what about ethyl maltol and maltose? Manufacturers are sneaking these types of sugar into everyday products without the consumer knowing what they are eating or drinking.

Even the most health-conscious of us consumes processed foods, even if just on the odd occasion. However if we don’t know what these sugars are called, and what they can do to our bodies, how can we make informed decisions? Is the answer to simply avoid processed foods altogether, or are we simply misunderstanding sugar and the effect it has on us?

The consensus is that it is not the type of sugar you are consuming, but simply the quantities of sugar that are found in processed foods. By using lots of different types and names of sugar, food manufacturers are able to list their sugar contents as lower than if they were to use purely cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

If they were bundled together these sugars would often be on the top of the ingredients list, but by using several different types they are often hidden further down.

We need to become more aware of sugar in our foods, and inspect labels carefully to identify which sugars – and how much of each sugar – are in what we are eating.

In our Ultimate Candida Diet plan, Dr. Eric Wood and I lay out a structured, low-sugar diet and treatment plan with 5 distinct phases. These stages are designed to get you back to a healthy, sustainable diet and lifestyle that you can enjoy for the long term.

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  1. allen higginbottom says:

    The reason why there is so many sick and dying people is because of the declining ability to make physical divine sexual love. this then affects all areas of humanity including exploiting and manipulating for power, money and influence of its own people- the masses. which in turn has cause a major global problem that now everyone is so busy to correct (food, health, dealing with the world, finding love, spiritual seeking etc) that there is no time to simply enjoy life on earth, cause now its not possible because the world demands that you serve it. so further down from the original effect is a multitude of problems (which is still and always will be the one and only real problem of life)is indeed the love between man and woman and making the divine connection on earth where it is needed. in other words re connecting consciously with god or the source of life within. until we realize this on a global level and as individuals we wont be going anywhere or being content. and of course the ignorance that man and woman has done to our food chain will remain until its all over. I have my priorities in order. reconnect with god as man through the love of woman, eat organic, support the facts and the truth in my life and stay focused on the big inteligent cosmically ethical and beautiful natural lifestyle in the midst of this war zone ( the world )

    1. whosay says:

      I think she is talking about removing sugar from your diet….simply put, it can bring a renewed sense of self and empowerment.

    2. whosaid says:

      Allen get a life…geeze are you a 17 yr old looking for his first time? Sounds like it!

    3. Karen says:

      So, the reason all that bad stuff is happening is because we aren’t having enough sex?

    4. Beverly says:

      Find more names for sugar:

    5. lilwiggles says:

      i love allen. he is completely right. unless you have experienced what he is saying, then you wouldn’t understand.

    6. Tiz says:

      Wow Allen is nuckin futs!

    7. LilBluBomb says:

      that has nothing to do with sugar

  2. Sammy says:

    I like how this article immediately blames the manufacturers for ‘sneaking’ sugar into the food and then later adds the consumer should be more aware. Yeah that makes sense lets blame others because we where too lazy to take the time to be AWARE of what we eat before we eat it!

    1. Hi Sammy. Actually it makes perfect sense. There’s no doubt that some manufacturers are using multiple variants of sugar to ensure that ‘sugar’ doesn’t end up as the #1 ingredient on the label. Therefore, consumers need to pay more attention to the labels than otherwise would be required.

      As for your point that people are too lazy to be aware of what they are eating… that’s kind of the point of this article isn’t it? To make people aware? I’m really not sure what you’re getting at.

      1. Karen says:

        I agree, I think the consumer has to be more aware of reading labels, understanding terms, etc. We need continued effort to ban crap pseudofood and have better labeling

    2. Karen says:

      Mak s sense to me. If the manufactures wont be ethical and make it easy to know what is in our food, we must take care. I also believe we should fight for change in the food industry, not just keep a wary eye out and avoid unhealthy ingredients.

      1. Donna says:

        “Manufacturers and organizations like the FDA, EPA, etc….don’t operate in an ethical manner. It’s no wonder most people don’t trust our gov’t, corporations, agencies, or manufacturers. It’s scary times when we have to go the extra mile to protect ourselves from those in food manufacturing, environmental protection, etc. or those who are to oversee that those processes remain healthy and free from bacteria or disease. We cannot assume that they are meeting or creating standards that serve the best interest of the public anymore. Sneaking in ingredients? How sad is that. So many food recalls carrying deadly bacteria much less purposefully hiding ingredients from us that we should be aware of to protect our health & well being. As much as I agree with Karen that we should fight for change, look how far it’s gotten when they are Genetically Modifying our food at the seed level, lacing plants with chemical toxins and pesticides. I’m sure many of us wish there was an answer.

        1. Debra says:

          Now that is sad, Its even sad to think the food theie selling as whole food isn’t truly whole food at all, smh

  3. Abbi says:

    Hi Lisa..

    Thanks for taking out the time to share all of your great and helpful information, on such an important topic.

    “May God Continue To Bless You”


  4. Tanja says:

    Well said Lisa 🙂

  5. maureen says:

    Above script by Allen Higginbotham is a wonderful creation written in such beautiful prose. What he is saying is truly beautiful and healthy and I agree with him.

  6. Mandi says:

    Trying to stick to the diet, but I would like to know why Stevia is on the OK list when every other kind of sugar I can think of is not OK. What makes Stevia different? Also, how about “coconut sugar”?

    Thanks for your time and help.

    1. Stevia is a plant not a sugar! Other sweeteners that are OK include sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol.

    2. Debra says:

      Good point, any answers

  7. Jo says:

    I am just about to start trying this plan – please can i have advice on how to buy things in stores i.e. What labels say – if the sugar is less than 1% is that okay or how do i decide? As if i read the ingredient list – im not necessarily sure what all the ingredients are and whether they are a sugar or a carb etc (not becasuse the names are hard to pronounce necessarily, but because im just unfaniliar with the food!)

    1. Lisa Richards says:

      The most important thing is to look through the ingredients list. Often the names for aded sugar are hidden. Don’t worry so much about the natural sugars – for example probiotic yogurt and kefir contain lactose but that’s fine.

      1. Dany Ehab says:

        There is one more thing – you can know if something is a dessert if one of the first three ingredients is sugar (or one of its names)

  8. Fred says:

    Thats really interesting.
    I wonder why there has to be so many

  9. Tina says:

    I think that sugar is only one type butt sugar have many types😉🙂☺☺😚

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