Galactose

What Is Galactose?

Galactose is a kind of simple sugar. It is also called gal for short. This sugar looks like a white solid and can dissolve in water. It tastes a lot like another sugar called glucose, but it is a little less sweet than table sugar, known as sucrose.

Where We Find Galactose

Galactose is found in nature. It is part of a substance called galactan in plants. It is also called “brain sugar” because it is in special molecules in our nerve tissue. We can also find it in some tiny organisms like bacteria and fungi.

Galactose and Milk

Galactose is very important in our bodies. It helps make a bigger sugar called lactose, which we find in milk. Without galactose, many of us would not be able to enjoy dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. Our bodies have special tools called enzymes that help break down lactose into galactose and glucose so we can use it for energy.