What Is Added Sugar?
Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared.
Too much added sugar might lead to health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
All sugars, whether natural or processed, are a type of simple carbohydrate your body uses for energy.
Sugars add calories without adding nutrients.
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FDA´s Definition Of Added Sugars
FDA’s definition of added sugars are sugars that are either added during the processing of foods or are packaged as such
. (source ◳)
No Nutritional Benefit From Eating Sugar
There is no nutritional need or benefit that comes from eating added sugar.
Your body doesn’t need added sugar.
Unfortunately, many foods, like breakfast foods, ready-to-eat cereals, cereal bars, instant oatmeal, and pastries, can contain high amounts of added sugars. (source ◳)
Added sugars have different names:
- Brown sugar
- Corn sweetener
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Fructose
- Glucose
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Honey
- Lactose
- Malt syrup
- Maltose
- Molasses
- Raw sugar
- Sucrose
(source ◳)
Why Is Added Sugar Bad?
Added sugar is responsible for an increase in blood glucose. The higher the sugar levels, the higher the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Added sugar is also a big problem in obesity. The American Dietetic Association says that the amount of added sugars to an ordinary soda is more than enough to cause weight gain.
Where Can I Find Added Sugar?
Added sugar is found in a wide variety of products. Even foods that shouldn't be sweet.
It is widely used in the food industry as a sweetener and is also used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and flavor enhancer.
It is used in candies, chewing gum, chewing tobaccos, baked goods, confectioneries, breakfast cereals, soft drinks, carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and many other food products.
In order to produce products having a pleasant taste and texture, sugar is often added.
