Sugar

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. It is also added to food and drink to make them taste sweet. Sugar provides energy for the body, but it can also cause tooth decay.

There are different types of sugar, including:

• sucrose – found in table sugar and honey;

• glucose – found in corn syrup and other processed foods;

• fructose – found in fruit and some vegetables; and
lactose – found in milk.

Sugar is metabolized by the body to provide energy. It is stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. Glycogen is broken down into glucose when the body needs energy between meals. Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, tooth decay, and diabetes.