What does "sugar-free" and "reduced sugar" mean on the labels of food packages?
What is meant by the term "sugars" on a food label?
How do sugars fit into a healthful diet?

Question

Mr. lybrate-user, Thanks for the query. When product label says sugar free it means there is no Sucrose which is cane sugar, is not present in it. This to make people use that product as many people do not want to consume extra sugar. Taking more sugar is not really healthy. However, one has to understand that majority of the food eaten by us (Indians, Asians) is containing about 60 to 70 % carbohydrates. All these are converted to glucose after digestion. So even if one does not take extra sugar, but consumes more of carbs it still gives more glucose and leads to adding weight. Sugars per say are not required as one already consuming enough of carbs. Thanks.

Prabhakar Laxman Jathar · Accepted Answer

Mr. lybrate-user, Thanks for the query. When product label says sugar free it means there is no Sucrose which is cane sugar, is not present in it. This to make people use that product as many people do not want to consume extra sugar. Taking more sugar is not really healthy. However, one has to understand that majority of the food eaten by us (Indians, Asians) is containing about 60 to 70 % carbohydrates. All these are converted to glucose after digestion. So even if one does not take extra sugar, but consumes more of carbs it still gives more glucose and leads to adding weight. Sugars per say are not required as one already consuming enough of carbs. Thanks.

What does "sugar-free" and "reduced sugar" mean on the labels of food packages? What is meant by the term "sugars" on a food label? How do sugars fit into a healthful diet?