Differences in the Types of Sugar We Consume

Differences in the Types of Sugar We Consume
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rich_Carroll]Rich Carroll 

It is becoming increasingly evident that sugar, and not healthy fat is the trigger to most of our health issues, including our epidemic of obesity. But just what is it about sugar that causes so much damage? And are there different forms of sugar that are worse for our health than others? First let us address the question of types of sugar.
Sugars are carbohydrates that are generally known as foods that have a sweet flavor. There are a few types of sugar, and the come from different sources. 

Chemically different substances that have a sweet taste, such as artificial sweeteners are not included here. These were used as sugar substitutes to prevent weight gain, but have found to be worse for the system than real sugar, which is bad enough. Most of the sugar we consume as food are simple sugars and can be grouped into three types:

1. Glucose. This simple sugar, along with fructose is considered a monosaccharide, which are the simplest and most basic form of sugar. This is considered the least sweet, and its main sources are grapes and corn. It would be found on the ingredients label as dextrose.

2. Fructose. Known as the fruit sugar, it is derived from fruits and vegetables, but also honey. This is the sweetest of all sugars. It is often used to extend the shelf life of baked goods.

3. Sucrose. This is a disaccharide, meaning it is a combination of glucose and fructose molecule bonded together. It comes from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and is what we now refer to as table sugar.

All of these forms of sugar provide about four calories per gram. But there is now evidence that they react in the body quite differently. This has not been conclusively confirmed, but if fructose is metabolized differently than glucose, for instance, then our bodies may react in different ways to those sugars. More research has to be done on the subject, but we now see strong indicators that there is a link between artificial sweeteners and cancer. Most health practitioners now strongly advise against these sugar substitutes. 

Though we have more to learn about sugar's direct link to cancer and other diseases, there is no doubt as to its indirect link. Too much sugar, largely because of the way it elevates insulin levels causes weight increase. This results in a direct link to cancer, heart disease and many other health maladies.

Most of us get far too many of our calories from sugar; on average as much as two to three times what we should be getting. And most of these sugar calories bring absolutely no nutritional value. Too many people get them in canned and processed foods, salad dressings, and pasta sauce, and not just donuts and candy bars.

So eliminate them, and get all of your sugar from natural sources. Vegetables and especially fruits have fructose, but they also are loaded with other nutrients, offsetting the sugar intake. But also think of other sources that are packed with antioxidants: honey, maple syrup, molasses and agave nectar that we know protect us from cancer. 

They are still sugar, so you can't overdue them, but they will not be the "dead nutrition" you get from simple sugars used to sweeten foods.

Eating a healthy diet not only means adding healthy foods to your diet such as honey, but staying away from certain types of foods. Read more on our website [http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/]http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/. And so many of the things that give us these healthy joints are the same things that keep our liver healthy, and you can read more on our website [http://liverissues.com/]http://liverissues.com/. Rich Carroll is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Differences-in-the-Types-of-Sugar-We-Consume&id=8229938] Differences in the Types of Sugar We Consume