Glucose and fructose are both monosaccharides -- simple sugar molecules. Sucrose is a disaccharide made up of two simple sugar molecules, a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule. Sucrose, glucose and fructose may taste similar in food sources such as fruit, honey and candy but are actually quite different.

All Sugars Are Not the Same

Sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup are major sources of fructose and glucose added to foods 2. Sucrose -- table sugar -- is equal parts fructose and glucose 2. HFCS is glucose and fructose mixed in different concentrations, the most common being 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. HFCS is in soft drinks and pastries as well as many processed foods. Although too much of any sugar in your diet is not good, researchers of a review study published in 2013 in "Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism" suggest fructose is linked to metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical problems that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes when they occur together 5. HFCS is under scrutiny because manufacturers are not required to specify on food labels for general consumers how much fructose is in the concentration.

Glucose May Be a Lesser Evil

How Much Fructose Is Healthy?

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Glucose did not increase triglycerides, which are fats or lipids in your blood, as much as the other sweeteners, which all contain fructose.

Fructose -- Not So Sweet

Fructose has been linked to more than one parameter associated with the metabolic syndrome. Researchers of the 2013 "Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism" review study found that fructose may increase uric acid in your blood, while researchers of a study published in 2011 in "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" stated fructose is associated with increased abdominal obesity, abnormal blood lipids and insulin resistance 57.

Reduce Your Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

Substitutes for Fructose

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A good way to decrease your risk of metabolic syndrome is to reduce added sugars in your diet. Added sugars are those not found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains and milk, so eat mainly fresh foods and limit your intake of processed foods. If you do happen to eat processed food, read the ingredients list for added sugar, which may appear as a name other than just sugar.