Is sugar good or bad for health?

Sugar in small amounts can fit into a normal diet, but eating a lot of it regularly may add extra calories and affect blood sugar and dental health over time.

What are the side effects of eating too much sugar?

Too much sugar over time may contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and higher blood sugar levels, and it has been linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver.

Is cane sugar different from refined sugar?

Cane sugar and refined sugar both come from sugarcane, but refined sugar goes through more processing to remove colour and impurities, giving it a purer white look.

Why is sugar added to so many packaged foods?

Sugar makes food taste sweet, helps with texture and shelf life, and can balance out sour or bitter flavours in many recipes.

Does natural sugar count the same as added sugar?

Natural sugars found in fruit come with fibre and nutrients, while added sugar in packaged foods usually does not, so nutrition experts often focus on limiting added sugar.

Sugar: health effects, nutrition and uses

Not a declarable allergen

This is not on India’s mandatory declaration list. It may still matter to you, and you can add it to your own avoid list.

What it is

Sugar, also called sucrose or refined sugar, is a carbohydrate taken out of sugarcane or sugar beet. It is cleaned and processed into white crystals or powder. Invert sugar is a liquid form made by splitting sugar into its two basic parts, and it is often used to keep foods soft and moist. Powdered sugar is just finely ground sugar used for icing and mixing easily into batters.

Nutrition

Sugar mainly provides calories through carbohydrate and has almost no vitamins, minerals, protein or fibre. One gram of sugar gives about four calories. It is often called a source of empty calories because it adds energy without other nutrients.

How it can affect health

Can affect: Eating sugar gives a quick rise in blood glucose and a short burst of energy, followed by a dip that can make a person feel hungry again soon. Regularly eating a lot of sugar can add extra calories to the diet and may affect blood sugar control and dental health over time.

May contribute to:

weight gain
tooth decay
type 2 diabetes
fatty liver
heart disease

Who should limit it

People with diabetes, prediabetes or fatty liver may need to watch their sugar intake. People trying to manage their weight or protect their teeth may also want to limit how much added sugar they eat.

Where it is found

Sugar is widely used in biscuits, cakes, chocolates, sweets, ice creams, soft drinks, breakfast cereals and flavoured yogurts sold in India. It is also used in sauces, ketchups and some savoury snacks to balance taste.

Also written as

The same word, written in another script

সুগারbn

A different word for the same thing

cane sugaren
ginger powderen
invert sugaren
invert sugar syrupen
invert syrupen
powdered sugaren
refined sugaren
sugaren
sugar (sucrose)en
sucrefr
चीनीhi
ಸಕ್ಕರೆkn
साखरmr
சர்க்கரைta
సక్కరte

Names in other languages

English: Sugar
हिन्दी: चीनी
मराठी: साखर
বাংলা: চিনি
தமிழ்: சர்க்கரை
తెలుగు: చక్కెర
ಕನ್ನಡ: ಸಕ್ಕರೆ

Products on Laddoo that list it

In alphabetical order.

Matched against each printed ingredient list. A pack not listed here may still contain it under a name we have not matched: check its label.

Questions people ask

Is sugar good or bad for health?: Sugar in small amounts can fit into a normal diet, but eating a lot of it regularly may add extra calories and affect blood sugar and dental health over time.
What are the side effects of eating too much sugar?: Too much sugar over time may contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and higher blood sugar levels, and it has been linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver.
Is cane sugar different from refined sugar?: Cane sugar and refined sugar both come from sugarcane, but refined sugar goes through more processing to remove colour and impurities, giving it a purer white look.
Why is sugar added to so many packaged foods?: Sugar makes food taste sweet, helps with texture and shelf life, and can balance out sour or bitter flavours in many recipes.
Does natural sugar count the same as added sugar?: Natural sugars found in fruit come with fibre and nutrients, while added sugar in packaged foods usually does not, so nutrition experts often focus on limiting added sugar.

Sugar