Types of Sugars

Most think that there are two types of sugars, but the topic of sugar is actually very complex.

One of the most common is artificial sugar. These are synthetic substitutes (sometimes they are from real herbs, but most of the time not), and are commonly the most intense of the sugars, because they intensify the sweet taste without adding extra calories. One of the downsides of artificial sugars like these is they can sometimes leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Many of these can not be used in baking as they are not bulky, such as table sugar or cane sugar, but they take away the amount of real sugar in a recipe. Artificial sugars can help people with diabetes-it provides the sweetness without actually raising blood sugar, but as always, ask your doctor about what you should do for your particular diet, as all of our bodies are different. Another controversial benefit is that they contribute to your diet by taking away a caloric value, something typical sugar would. Research suggests that this idea may be a temporary fix, as the artificial sugar will cause you to crave more sugary things in the future, and desensitize your tongue to the taste of real sugar, causing it to become less attractive to your brain.

Second up are sugar alcohols. They are regulated by the FDA, are not as sweet as natural sugar, and are both a natural and unnatural carbohydrate, natural similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables. They do not actually contain any alcohol in them- as they don't have any traceable amounts of ethanol in them. Sugar alcohols are used in processed foods and things such as chocolate, mouthwash, and frozen desserts. They allow the product to become bulky, have texture, and help keep food moist. These are not favorable over artificial sugars to diabetics as they are a carbohydrate, thus raising blood sugar, but the absorption of them into the bloodstream is less then natural sugars. Too much of this type of sugar can cause gastrointestinal track problems as a negative.

Natural sugars, or added sugars, are what you see added to a food during the processing process. Honey and sugar are both considered added sugar, (HONEY SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN UNDER 1 YEARS OLD AS IT CAN CARRY BOTULISM). Personally, honey is my favorite sweetener, and as always, everything you eat should be eaten within moderation.

I wrote this for myself, really. Learning how to take care of my body and treat is well and feed it for the future has become something of major importance. Do research before you buy, look at the ingredients, and learn what not to look for.