Sugar is a sweetener that makes foods more sweet tasting. Sugars are found in the tissues of most plants. Lactose is the only sugar that can not be extracted from plants. It can only be found in milk and some dairy products. Sugar is a soluble carbohydrate and the preferred energy source for the body because the majority of it provides glucose. Your brain, organs and muscles need to function by the fuel of glucose. Carbohydrates along with fat and proteins are macronutrients that provide the body with energy.
Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are chemically made substances that mimic sugar. They have a tendency to taste sweeter than table sugar and have zero calories. They’re are found in food and beverages. There is also a misconception about Stevia. Although it’s derived by a plant, it’s more similar to artificial sweeteners than commonly thought. Sugars and natural sweeteners provide our bodies with calories that are either used as energy or stored as fat. Artificial sweeteners do not provide calories and are either broken down into a number of compounds or not broken down at all. Our diets should consist of foods that do not contain added sweeteners of any kind. Let’s face it, we all like something sweet. The problem is that sugar can wreak havoc on our bodies. I see sugar as a drug. It’s so addictive. It’s also the main cause of diabetes and obesity. You’re at risk whether you eat healthy meals or fast foods. Sugars have infiltrated our food supply and sometimes a meal that seems healthy can have the same amount of sugar as a can of soda. In most cases, the overall amount of sugar in products is higher than what’s listed on the food labels. Researchers say today we are consuming more sugar than ever before and also different types of sugars that are harmful to our bodies and how sugar damage effects go further than anyone might believe. The effects of sugar are vast. Sugar is a food that’s widely available for us and as the availability increases so does the consumption. There is no official guideline of how much sugar is too much so therefore it’s up to you to focus on your intake and be mindful of what you’re consuming. In my next article I will have a list of 81 common names for sugar.
