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The Best Dietary Sources of Glucose

Glucose, sometimes known as dextrose, is a simple sugar that is used as a form of energy in most biological organisms, from bacteria to humans. In plants, it is a byproduct of photosynthesis, while in humans it is distributed via the bloodstream. Without sufficient glucose, the human body cannot function properly, resulting in diabetes. Glucose is found in foods rich in carbohydrates.

  1. Fruit

    • Fruit is perhaps the easiest way to attain glucose in your diet. Fruits rich in this sugar include grapes, bananas, cherries, apricots and strawberries. Glucose is also present in dried fruits such as prunes, figs and dates.

    Vegetables

    • Vegetables rich in carbohydrates carry a high proportion of glucose. These include onions, mushrooms and radishes. There are, however, other vegetables that effectively lower glucose in the human body. These include broccoli, artichokes and spinach.

    Honey

    • With approximately a third of its weight consisting of glucose (in 3.5 oz. of honey there is around 1.2 oz. of glucose), honey is an excellent dietary source of the sugar. It has a similar sweetness to table sugar but because it has not been processed as much, the body absorbs it quicker, making it less likely to be stored as fat. Furthermore, honey contains vitamins and minerals that aid digestion.

    Table Sugar

    • Table sugar contains glucose in a similar proportion to honey, but the refining process means that the trace minerals that occur in natural sugar are removed. This results in more "empty" calories in table sugar than in honey. The many processed foods that contain high levels of glucose (such as fruit juices and salad dressings) do so primarily because table sugar, or its industrial equivalent, has been added to them.

    Cereals

    • Cereals, because of their carbohydrate content, are another good dietary source of glucose. Spelt, buckwheat, cornmeal and rice are particularly abundant with glucose. The sugar can also be obtained by consuming pasta.

    Herbs and Spices

    • Certain herbs, spices and condiments contain glucose. While not available in sufficient quantities to radically alter glucose levels in the body, it is worth knowing which of these are higher in glucose. Among the top providers are balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic and licorice.

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