Sucrose is a disaccharide, meaning a short-chain carbohydrate made up of two single carbohydrate units. One sucrose molecule contains one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose bound together.
Sucrose is one of the most common sugars available, and is also known as ‘table sugar’- the kind you buy at the shops to use in tea and coffees and baking. Many food products contain sucrose as a sweetener, although the ingredients panel usually lists it simply as sugar.
Sugar isn’t bad for us, and it certainly isn’t toxic as some people claim. Our current Dietary Guidelines suggest limiting foods high in added sugars but you don’t need to cut these foods out completely, just enjoy them less often or in smaller amounts. Remember that many foods that are higher in sugar also contain other nutrients which we need to be healthy.
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