The single sugars can be combined to form disaccharides, a term that means "two sugars." These sugars include:
- Lactose (milk sugar) is made up of glucose and galactose molecules. People who are "lactose intolerant" can't digest this sugar properly.
- Sucrose (table sugar) is composed of glucose and fructose molecules. This is the white powdery or granular substance we typically refer to as "sugar" when we are cooking or baking.
- Maltose (malt sugar) is produced during the malting of cereals such as barley.
Identifying Simple Carbohydrates
Processed foods that contain simple carbohydrates are usually high in calories, and not very nutritious, so you may wish to cut back on foods that contain these ingredients:
- Sucrose
- Brown Sugar
- Raw Sugar
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Corn Syrup
- Dextrose
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Maltose
- Malt Sugar
- Syrup
- Honey
Milk contains lactose, which is a problem for people who are lactose-intolerant. People with this condition must avoid milk and many other dairy products or use supplemental enzymes called lactase that help them digest milk sugar.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Nutrition for Everyone: Basics: Carbohydrates." Accessed January 5, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/carbs.html#Simple%20Carbohydrates.


