Lactose
You probably know this one from its presence in milkand dairy products. It's also broken down in your small intestine, where it's converted into the monosaccharides, glucose and galactose. After that, it travels to the bloodstream to power up your muscles. Some people do have trouble digesting this one, so skip it before spin class if you're prone to stomach issues.
While your body definitely processes glucose the fastest, over the course of a day it's important for athletes to get a mix of all of the above, Larson says. "Each sugar uses a different metabolic pathway to provide energy to the muscles," she explains. "You can pump more sugar into the muscle if you are consuming two or three different types, as opposed to one. That's a distinct advantage that delays fatigue and increases training intensity and performance."
Science backs this up, too, showing that your body oxidizes glucose and fructose more quickly when you eat them together, rather than alone. Snacks that contain both: popcorn, apples and bananas.