Who doesn’t like sugar? It is one of those foods we learn to like at a very young age and the taste it gives to so many of our foods is something we have all learned to expect. However we can learn to use less sugar and if you happen to be a diabetic, sugar and/or carbohydrates that convert to sugar inside our bodies can cause real health problems.
I recently attended a meeting where I was given a packet of information, provided by the Sugar Institute on sugar, stating there is more to sugar than we probably realize. Real sugar comes from sugar beet and sugar cane plants. Did you know that 100-125 years ago, southwest Kansas farmers produced thousands of acres of sugar beets? Hawaii also produced a lot of sugar at one time. So, sugar is actually a plant food. In the material I received, there was a pamphlet on myths and facts about sugar so I thought I would share a few of those with you.
Myth: Sugar is hidden in food. Fact: Sugar is added to food for functional purposes and is listed on the ingredient list. It can help balance acidity in salad dressing or sauces. It can also slow or prevent spoilage in breads and canned vegetables and prepared foods. Myth: “Reduced sugar” always means reduced calories. Fact: When sugar is removed from food, there are new ingredients that need to take its place. Because of the many functions of sugar, reducing sugar in a food product often isn’t as simple as just cutting the sugar in a recipe. For example sugar may be added to a cereal to mask the bitter taste of fiber or added vitamins, increase bulk and lengthen the shelf life.
Several ingredients will need to be added to replace all of those functions if you take the sugar out. Myth: Making sugar is a complicated process. Fact: Sugar is simply removed from the plant, washed, crystallized and dried. Myth: White sugar is bleached. Fact: Sugar is naturally white. Myth: Sugar is high in calories. Fact: Sugar has only 15 calories per teaspoon. Myth: “Raw” sugar is healthier than table sugar. Fact: All sugar is the same: one part fructose and one part glucose. It is a sample sugar that provides energy to your brain and other organs. Myth: Sugar is toxic. Fact: Sugar is a sweet energy source that has been in our diets for thousands of years and is best enjoyed in moderation. Myth: Sugar is addictive. Fact: Eating something you enjoy is pleasurable, but addiction and pleasure are not the same. Myth: Sugar causes chronic disease such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Fact: Excess calories from all foods and beverages, including sugars, can lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases but research does not show a direct link between sugar and any of these conditions.
Some old advice…..a little bit of everything but not too much of anything is still a good rule to follow.
Source: Sugar Assoc.
