The sugar molecule is the simplest form of carbohydrate, according to MayoClinic.com. Sugar gets absorbed into the bloodstream and becomes blood sugar, or glucose, where it acts as fuel for your entire body for functions ranging from breathing to jogging.
Your body can also store some sugar for later use. Sugar naturally occurs in many foods, but it can also be added to foods to enhance flavor. Foods with natural sugars tend to be the healthiest for you.
Fruits
Fruits such as watermelon, passion fruits, pineapples mangoes and berries, among others, contain the natural sugars sucrose and fructose, they also offer you essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C and folate.
Opt for whole fruits over dried fruits and fruit juices, as they tend to contain fewer calories due to a lower concentration of natural sugar.
Whole fruits offer the added advantage of water and bulk in the form of the indigestible carbohydrate fiber, which helps you feel satiated on fewer calories, according to MayoClinic.com.
Milk and Vegetables
Milk contains a simple sugar known as lactose, which is made of the simple sugars glucose and galactose.
Milk offers calcium, protein, and a variety of minerals and vitamins, but stick to low-fat varieties and avoid dairy products that contain added sugars to keep your caloric intake down.
Certain vegetables, such as carrots, beets and sweet potatoes, also contain natural sugars, but like whole fruits; they also have great nutritional value.
