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Foods without sugar to provide energy?

Page last modified on: August 15, 2008

Ask-the-Expert Online Conference

Question from KT: I am finding radiation therapy very tiring. What foods can I eat (besides sugar) to perk up my energy?

Answers —Ronda Gates, M.S., R.Ph.: I would avoid sugar. Energy rich foods come from complex carbohydrates, which are in fresh fruits and vegetables, especially crunchy ones. It is berry season, so take advantage of it. To enhance the energy span, add some non- or low-fat protein, nonfat yogurt, nonfat or low-fat cream cheeses. Hummus, bean dips, nonfat or water packed tuna, peanut butter--we're back to carrots and peanut butter, or celery and peanut butter, a standard at my house!

Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Ronda, what are the words to look for in the ingredients that really mean "sugar"?

Ronda Gates, M.S., R.Ph.: Good question! Most sugar is hidden. Other names for "sugar" that may be contained in "sugarless" products-

"raw" sugar
brown sugar
cane
confectioner sugar
corn sweetener
corn syrup
dextrin
dextrose
fructose
glucose
hexitol
honey
invert sugar
levulose
maltose
mannitol
maple syrup
molasses
refined sugar
saccharin
sorbitol
sucrose (table sugar)
turbinado sugar
xylitol

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Meet the Experts

Ronda Gates, M.S., R.Ph. is an adult development specialist and health promotion educator who develops and delivers programs and products to support lifestyle change. Ronda was a hospital pharmacist for seventeen years, then she traded in her white coat for a pair of athletic shoes, created a corporate fitness business, and never looked back. Combining that business experience with graduate education in nutrition, counseling, and life has generated honors from a range of professional organizations including the Association for Worksite Health Promotion and the Oregon Governor's Council for Health, Fitness and Sports.

Breastcancer.org Founder and President Marisa Weiss, M.D. is the co-author of the new book, Taking Care of Your “Girls:" A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens, and In-Betweens and the acclaimed book, Living Beyond Breast Cancer. She frequently serves as a responsible voice on breast health and breast cancer to live and print media, including ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s TODAY, CNN breast cancer segments, Lifetime TV, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Dr. Weiss speaks regularly at national conferences and is the recipient of awards from the American Cancer Society, Coping magazine, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She served two terms on the National Cancer Institute Director's Consumer Liaison Group, with a special interest in strengthening the sacred patient-doctor relationship.