Added sugar

Added sugars are sugar carbohydrates (caloric sweeteners) added to food and beverages during their production (industrial processing). This type of sugar is chemically indistinguishable from naturally occurring sugars, but the term "added sugar" has become increasingly used in nutrition and medicine to help identify foods characterized by added energy. Added sugars have no nutritional value, only adding "empty calories". Consumption of added sugar is positively correlated with high calorie intake, and through it, with excess weight and obesity. Added sugars are also known as extrinsic, with naturally occurring sugars known as intrinsic.

The consumption of added sugars has been positively associated with multiple measures known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for adolescents as well as adults. Added sugars are also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as increase in body weight and obesity.

In the United States, the most popular types of added sugar are sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup, both primarily composed of about half glucose and half fructose. Other types of added sugar include: all types of beet and cane sugars, all types of corn syrup (including solids), malt syrup, maple syrup, pancake syrup, fructose sweetener, liquid fructose, fruit juice concentrate, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, and crystal dextrose. The most common types of foods containing added sugars are sweetened beverages, including most soft drinks. In the US, 20% of daily calorie consumption comes from that single source. The World Health Organization recommends that this number should be no higher than 10%. 13% of American population receives over 25% of their calories from added sugars, which often means they are not getting enough of other key nutrients.

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