Refined sugar is a type of sugar that has undergone a refining process to remove impurities and produce a more uniform product. It is extracted from plant sources such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or corn, and is used to sweeten a wide variety of foods and beverages. The refining process involves removing the molasses from the sugar to produce a white, granulated product that is chemically indistinguishable whether it comes from sugar cane or sugar beets. Refined sugar is also known as table sugar, granulated sugar, or regular sugar.

Refined sugar is considered an empty calorie food because it contains virtually no vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, fiber, or other beneficial compounds. Consuming too much refined sugar may increase the risk of various health problems such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, Alzheimers, and cellular aging. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that processed sugar should make up less than 10% of calories for those who are 2 years and older.

Some common sources of refined sugar include white and brown sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, and other sugars added to packaged foods and drinks such as ice cream, pastries, and soda. It is important to note that refined sugar does not contain minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium present in small quantities in molasses. Therefore, from a nutritional point of view, brown sugar may be a better option than refined sugar because it contains some minerals.