Also known as dextrose and grape sugar
Glucose is a monosaccharide. It is an important nutrient, and it is the major energy source for brain cells. The human body can store a certain amount of glucose as glycogen, and of course, excess glucose can be converted to fat.
Glucose has a clean sweet taste. It is about 70% as sweet as sucrose on a weight basis.
Glucose, like all sugars, provides approximately 4 calories per gram.
Glucose has high water solubility. In food products, glucose provides bulk and binds moisture.
Glucose is a major energy source in the human body. It is the primary energy source for brain cells. Glucose can be stored in the body as glycogen, a glucose polymer. Excess glucose can, of course, be converted to fat.
Glucose is of particular concern to diabetics, who are less able to move excess glucose out of the blood. A high blood glucose level can lead to tissue damage via non-specific glycation (attachment of glucose to proteins in a random manner).
Glucose is a component of sucrose. Starch, glycogen, and cellulose are composed of long chains of glucose molecules. Glucose is the primary product of photosynthesis in plants.