Top 10 Foods Highest in Glucose

Top 10 Foods Highest in Glucose

Glucose is a simple monosaccharide sugar, and is the principal energy source for cells throughout the body, including the brain. (1,2)

Carbohydrates in foods are all ultimately broken down in the body into glucose. Sugars other than glucose are converted to glucose in the liver so that they can be used by the body. Starches are long chains of glucose molecules, which are released during the process of digestion. (2) If you are looking to manage your blood glucose levels, it is important to balance your intake of sugars and carbohydrates.

Foods naturally high in pure glucose include honey, agave, molasses, dried fruit, fruits, fruit juices, and sweet corn. These foods are healthy in moderation, as part of a balanced diet, especially fresh fruits. Foods that typically have a lot of added glucose include sauces, salad dressings, pies, and sugary drinks.

Foods with high levels of added sugar should be limited, as over-consumption of these foods is associated with an increased risk of type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. (3,4)

Below are the top 10 foods highest in glucose, for more, see the extended list of glucose rich foods.

List of High Glucose Foods

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Printable list of high glucose foods.

More Glucose Rich Foods

FoodServingGlucose
1. Jackfruit + per cup sliced 15.6g
(3.9 tsp)
2. Mamey Sapote + 1 cup chopped 14g
(3.5 tsp)
3. Cherimoya + per cup pieces 9.5g
(2.4 tsp)
4. Fried Yellow Plantains + per cup 8.4g
(2.1 tsp)
5. Canned Tomato Puree + per cup 6.1g
(1.5 tsp)
7. Fast Foods (Applebees Onion Rings) + per order 4.1g
(1 tsp)
8. Baked Beans + per cup 4g
(1 tsp)
9. Sweet Dessert Wine + per 5oz glass 3.8g
(1 tsp)
10. Horchata + per cup 3.7g
(0.9 tsp)
11. Rutabagas (Swedes, Neeps) + per cup cooked 3.5g
(0.9 tsp)

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View more nutrients with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.

Data Sources and References

  1. Mulukutla BC, Yongky A, Le T, Mashek DG, Hu WS. Sugar for the brain: the role of glucose in physiological and pathological brain function Trends Biotechnol. 2016 Aug;34(8):638-651. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.04.012. Epub 2016 Jun 2. 27265890
  2. Gurung P, Zubair M, Jialal I. Physiology, Glucose 2023 Jan 18. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. 31082125
  3. Sigala DM, Widaman AM, Hieronimus B, Nunez MV, Lee V, Benyam Y, Bremer AA, Medici V, Havel PJ, Stanhope KL, Keim NL. Sugar consumption, metabolic disease and obesity: The state of the controversy Nutrients. 2020 Dec 19;12(12):3893. doi: 10.3390/nu12123893. 33352724
  4. Mozaffarian D. Dietary sugar consumption and health: umbrella review Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023 Jul;11(7):448-451. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00151-1. Epub 2023 Jun 2. 37276874
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