Carbohydrate
- The figure for total carbohydrate includes the carbohydrate from sugary and starchy food and drink.
- Carbohydrates (of which sugars) tells you how much sugar is present and includes both added sugar and natural sugar (eg fruit sugar known as fructose and milk sugar known as lactose).
- Added sugars include sugars such as sucrose, glucose, glucose syrup, invert syrup, maltose and honey. The nearer these are to the top of the ingredients list, the more likely the food or drink is high in added sugars. For example pure orange juice has no added sugar on the label but is high in natural sugar.
- All carbohydrate increases your blood glucose levels.
- Intense low-calorie sweeteners such as Splenda, Canderel and Hermesetas can be a useful alternative to sugar.
- Regular meals which include some starchy carbohydrate food such as wholegrain bread and cereals, pasta and basmati rice will help to control your blood glucose levels.
