Get the facts about sugar and sugar substitutes, including which types of sweeteners are best for your health. Sugar can also be called sucrose; The scientific name for sugar.

While it might sound man-made, sucrose is simply the chemical name for sugar, the simple carbohydrate we know and love that is produced naturally. Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose.