Hidden Sugar...what sugar is hiding in your "healthy foods?"

Hidden sugar. What a strange topic, right? I think most, if not all of us, want to eat right and be healthy. So many of us think we’re “eating right”, yet, we’re still tired, we’re still having headaches, we still can’t lose weight. It just might be that we’re eating “hidden sugars”.

Many of you are probably aware that sugar is a “no-no”. Because of this, you might be someone who diligently checks food labels to make sure there is no sugar listed in the ingredients. But did you know that even when there isn't any sugar listed on the package it doesn't always mean there is no sugar? There are over 50 names for sugar!! You could be eating sugar without even realizing it! Keep reading to find a list of common hidden sugars to steer clear of.

Before we get to the list of hidden sugars let's talk all about sugar in general. As a health coach, my goal is to help my clients and readers truly understand why sugar is bad, what it does on the inside. I could go on and on about why it's not good for you, but right now, let's just talk about a few reasons.

Sugar raises your insulin. When you eat high carb/sugar foods and it spikes your insulin, well, what goes up must come down. Then you have the dreaded crash. And for most, we go throughout our day with spikes and crashes. This is what we call blood sugar imbalance. Over time, this wreaks havoc in the body. This roller coaster will cause inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is the root of disease. Another effect of too much sugar is liver issues. A lot of people know that drinking too much alcohol is bad for the liver. But did you know that eating too much processed foods and sugar also causes liver disease? It is estimated that 100 million Americans have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). That is an astounding number! And it’s because we are eating way too much processed food that has loads of sugar.

Now that you understand more about why sugar is actually bad for you, Let's get back to hidden sugars so you can really stay away from it. Not only is sugar hidden by different names, but it also comes in different forms. You might intentionally stay away from sugary foods like candy, but my question is, do you eat bread? Do you eat pasta? As soon as you start chewing, it is as though you just ate a spoonful of sugar. Why? Because as soon as you start chewing, your body converts it to sugar and it raises your insulin. Did you know that a piece of bread will raise your blood sugar more than a candy bar? Crazy, huh?

With that being understood, let's make sure you can avoid the hidden sugar that is hiding even in your “healthy foods” with the list of hidden sugars below. Each item on the list below is a different name for sugar. Be on the lookout for these tricky names when you read labels so you know if you’re really getting a product with “no sugar.”