4/22/10
Sugar Alcohols
Sugar Alcohols contain fewer calories than actual sugar. They are neither sugar nor alcohols but carbohydrates with structures that resemble sugar. They are generally recognized as safe however they are considered to provide fewer calories than sugar because they cannot be completely absorbed by our bodies, (this is why foods that contain sugar alcohols warn that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect).
4/17/10
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are often used by diabetics who monitor their sugars and when one is trying to cut calories from their diet. There is evidence showing that artificial sweeteners may not trigger the same brain reaction for satiety and could potentially increase appetite for sweets and other carbohydrates. Artificial sweeteners do not exist in nature and so the body is unable to process them, resulting in no calorie intake – we still do not know what, if any, the long term effects are from some of these sweeteners. Common names for artificial sweeteners are: saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-k, sucralose, neotame.
4/8/10
Sweet Spring
The next few days I will be providing information on sugar, sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners so you can make a wise decision on how to incorporate it in your diet.
By definition, sugar is a carbohydrate that is found naturally in fruits and vegetables, and is created during photosynthesis. There are several types of sugars; the most common are sucrose, glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose are made of single molecules; sucrose is made of two molecules and is created from the combination of glucose and fructose.
The most common sources for sugar are sugar beets and sugar cane. Though it gets a bad rap, in its natural form, sugar only has 15 calories per teaspoon and when consumed in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
When we eat sugar, our blood sugars rise and trigger a spike in insulin, which preps our cells to absorb the sugar. If there are no other nutrients to sustain this blood sugar level, we crash - this is the cycle of sugar addiction. However, when sugar is consumed as part of a balanced diet, a calorie–control mechanism in our brains activates and regulates the desire for more food, releasing the satiety hormone leptin. In moderation, sugar can be part of a healthy diet but when we consume too much, it triggers a cycle in which we continue to eat without experiencing satiety.
By definition, sugar is a carbohydrate that is found naturally in fruits and vegetables, and is created during photosynthesis. There are several types of sugars; the most common are sucrose, glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose are made of single molecules; sucrose is made of two molecules and is created from the combination of glucose and fructose.
The most common sources for sugar are sugar beets and sugar cane. Though it gets a bad rap, in its natural form, sugar only has 15 calories per teaspoon and when consumed in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
When we eat sugar, our blood sugars rise and trigger a spike in insulin, which preps our cells to absorb the sugar. If there are no other nutrients to sustain this blood sugar level, we crash - this is the cycle of sugar addiction. However, when sugar is consumed as part of a balanced diet, a calorie–control mechanism in our brains activates and regulates the desire for more food, releasing the satiety hormone leptin. In moderation, sugar can be part of a healthy diet but when we consume too much, it triggers a cycle in which we continue to eat without experiencing satiety.
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