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Written by Navneet Kaur, M.Sc. Nutrition & Dietetics
Diet
Ingredient lists often conceal sugars under names such as dextrose, maltodextrin, or rice syrup.
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Words ending in “‑ose” are almost always added sugar (e.g., sucrose, fructose).
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“Natural sweeteners” like honey, agave, and maple syrup are still considered sugar and fall into the same category.
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If sugar is one of the top 3 ingredients, it’s shaping the taste, skip it.
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“No added sugar” doesn’t mean no sugar; natural fruit juices or natural sugars through fruit extract, etc, still count.
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Reduced-fat labels often add sugar to improve taste; be cautious when opting for your favourite low-fat snack.
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Check the serving size, as one bottle typically equals two servings or so, which doubles the sugar content per package.
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4g of sugar = 1 tsp. Compare grams per serving to teaspoons to understand intake.
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Learn to identify the label red flags like fruit juice concentrate, corn syrup solids, and brown rice syrup.
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Scan the label carefully before you buy; label mastery helps you avoid hidden sweet traps.
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