Cut down on added sugar of all types

I have a question regarding the nutrition facts label on Minute Maid Light Lemonade. I consume this drink on a regular basis.

The label touts that one serving is only 15 calories, 100 percent of the daily value vitamin C and only two grams of sugar. All sounds pretty good to me. I noticed the label also discloses high fructose corn syrup, which I have read is to be generally avoided. Would the two grams of sugar content on the label include the corn syrup or would it be two grams plus the corn syrup? I hope the former, because this is good stuff in my opinion!

Yes, the two grams of sugar listed on the label for one serving of this product includes high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener made from corn. (Two grams, by the way, is less than a half teaspoon.)

Unlike usual corn syrup, which is mostly glucose, the HFCS used in this beverage is about half glucose and half fructose, according to the company website. Regular table sugar or sucrose, is also half glucose and half fructose; therefore, both types of sugars are digested similarly.

Concerns about HFCS arose when studies found that large amounts of fructose (in the absence of glucose) interfered with the body’s ability to metabolize fats. This doesn’t usually happen outside of the laboratory, however. And remember, fructose is the main sugar in fruit, honey, agave syrup and other sweet foods that we adore.

What we generally need to avoid, say health experts, are high amounts of any type of added sugar. Your light lemonade is one way to do that.