Light corn syrup has 283 calories and a high glycemic index of ~90. It is primarily glucose polymers (maltose, maltotriose) from cornstarch hydrolysis. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), light corn syrup contains minimal fructose, making its blood glucose spike faster but shorter.
How should I track Corn syrup, light?
When tracking Corn syrup, light, measuring by weight on a kitchen scale gives you the most precision. Volume measures vary depending on crystal size and powder density — a heaping spoonful can be double a level one. Research shows visual estimation errors reach 50–200% for calorie-dense foods (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013), and liquid sweeteners like honey are among the easiest to over-pour. For zero-calorie sweeteners, bulking agents add trace calories (2–4 per packet) — negligible in your daily total. For calorie-containing sweeteners, the scale is essential.