You’ve probably heard of Glucose and Sucrose, but do you know what they’re all and how they affect your body? These articles will provide you with the information you need to know about these three sugars and how they are used by the body. Now, you can start your own sugar detox plan. Listed below are the benefits of avoiding sugars, and some of the side effects of consuming them. You can also check out Good Housekeeping’s 21-day sugar detox plan.
Sucrose
The name sugar is used to describe a group of different sweeteners. Some are naturally occurring while others must undergo refinement. Table sugar is composed of sucrose, a compound of glucose and fructose. Sucrose is the most abundant type of sugar in nature, and it is commonly used in cooking and baking. Refined forms of sucrose include molasses, brown sugar, and confectioners’ sugar.
Sucralose is produced from sugar using a patented process. During the manufacturing process, three chlorine atoms replace the three hydroxyl groups on a sugar molecule. As a result, sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sucrose and contains very few calories. Sucralose was invented in 1976 and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998. It is commonly used in baking and nonalcoholic beverages, and it does not contribute to tooth decay.
While sugar is natural, sugar substitutes may not be entirely healthy. Some sugar substitutes may not be absorbed by the body well. Studies conducted in labs have revealed that sucralose can decrease the amount of beneficial gut bacteria in mice but not in humans. The body is still trying to find out how it responds to the ingredient in humans. Sucralose is considered to be a heat-resistant ingredient but it also breaks down easily in high temperatures and interacts with other ingredients.
Glucose
Both sugar and glucose are used by our cells as fuel. However, they have different fates in our metabolism. Compared to glucose, fructose does not undergo any metabolism in the human body. Instead, it is transported into our cells by the insulin-dependent transport system and stored in the liver. Afterwards, it is converted into energy by our cells. But how do we get our bodies to use glucose? Let’s find out.
Glucose is the main energy source of all living organisms. It is produced by photosynthesis in plants and stored in the body as glycogen and starch in animals. High glucose levels result in the condition known as diabetes mellitus. It is also an essential monomer for the synthesis of many common polymers. This is one reason why glucose is a fuel source, but there are also oral and nutritional implications to it.
Glucose is the main form of sugar in the blood and serves as the primary source of energy for the body. It is an important part of many carbohydrates and is produced naturally by plants. In animals, blood sugar serves as the main energy source for aerobic respiration. In humans, excess glucose is stored in the liver as ketosis. Sugar also plays important roles in cellular respiration. It also acts as a precursor to several other carbohydrates.
Fructose
Fructose is a natural sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, honey, sugar cane, and beets. While these sources are sweeter than table sugar, they do not raise blood glucose levels the way glucose does. In addition to being sweeter than table sugar, fructose has lower GI and no impact on insulin production. Because of these properties, fructose is considered a healthy alternative to table sugar.
Added sugar has two major problems: it destroys tooth enamel and it fuels the bad bacteria in the mouth. Bad bacteria feed on sugar, and these bacteria then produce acid which wears away the protective layer on the teeth. This process also leads to gum disease and cavities. Because sugar has so many names on nutrition labels, it’s difficult to know what you should be consuming. For best results, stick to the AHA’s recommended sugar limits.
A recent study in Taiwan focused on the effects of a diet high in fructose on young people. The results showed that excessive fructose consumption accelerated insulin resistance, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hardened arteries. Further, excessive amounts of fructose increase the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, excess fructose consumption increases uric acid in the body, which can lead to gout and high blood pressure.