Fact 1 Not All Sugars Are the Same
People often think that the word “sugar” means table sugar. It does, but it also refers to many other types of sugars, too, including, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose
(the table sugar mentioned above). These sugars are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and in such foods as honey, molasses, and maple syrup. Sugars also are extracted from their sources to produce ingredients such as table sugar. This can include sugars from corn such as corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup as well as the sources for table sugar such as sugar beets or sugar cane. Many sugars are used to sweeten or preserve other food products. The human body cannot tell the difference between …show more content…
Most commonly used sugars
(table sugar, honey, HFCS) contain glucose, which is the only fuel used by the brain and the primary fuel used by working muscles.
Fact 2 Dental Cavities are Caused by
Bacteria—Not Sugars
Sugars and cooked starches (e.g., bread, pasta, crackers, and chips) are fermentable carbohydrates that contribute to the risk for dental cavities. In the absence of proper oral hygiene, bacteria present on the teeth can break down sugars and cooked starches to produce acid and without proper dental hygiene can eventually lead to dental cavities. The degree of risk from a carbohydrate-rich food is related to several factors such as how often the foods are consumed and the amount of time these foods remain on the teeth. However, risk can be decreased through several practices, the most important being proper oral hygiene and the use of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water. Also important in reducing the risk of cavities is eating a balanced diet in line with current dietary guidelines.
Fact 3 Sugars Do Not Cause Obesity,
Diabetes and Other Serious Diseases
Sugars have a long history of safe use in foods.
In addition, many health aspects of sugars …show more content…
Today, even though most people can easily find the food sources they need forsurvival,we still are genetically inclined to like and enjoy sweet foods.This does not, however, mean that these foods are “addictive”.
Drugs of abuse are addictive in a way that individuals crave the substance and abuse it without control due to induced physiological changes in the brain. Food sustains life while these drugs do not.
Fact 6 Eliminating Sugars From Your Diet
Is Not Necessary in Order to Lose Weight
As sugars are ingredients in favorite foods it may be natural to suspect that they have a role in contributing to over-consumption and increased body weight. The truth is that many epidemiologic studies (studies that look at what large groups of people are eating and their health status) have shown that high sucrose
(sugar) diets are not linked to higher body weight or higher body mass index (BMI). In fact, high sugar intakes are often linked to lower
BMI. Several studies have found that as the percent of sugar in the diet increases, body weight and BMI decrease. In its 2002 report on
People often think that the word “sugar” means table sugar. It does, but it also refers to many other types of sugars, too, including, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose
(the table sugar mentioned above). These sugars are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and in such foods as honey, molasses, and maple syrup. Sugars also are extracted from their sources to produce ingredients such as table sugar. This can include sugars from corn such as corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup as well as the sources for table sugar such as sugar beets or sugar cane. Many sugars are used to sweeten or preserve other food products. The human body cannot tell the difference between …show more content…
Most commonly used sugars
(table sugar, honey, HFCS) contain glucose, which is the only fuel used by the brain and the primary fuel used by working muscles.
Fact 2 Dental Cavities are Caused by
Bacteria—Not Sugars
Sugars and cooked starches (e.g., bread, pasta, crackers, and chips) are fermentable carbohydrates that contribute to the risk for dental cavities. In the absence of proper oral hygiene, bacteria present on the teeth can break down sugars and cooked starches to produce acid and without proper dental hygiene can eventually lead to dental cavities. The degree of risk from a carbohydrate-rich food is related to several factors such as how often the foods are consumed and the amount of time these foods remain on the teeth. However, risk can be decreased through several practices, the most important being proper oral hygiene and the use of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water. Also important in reducing the risk of cavities is eating a balanced diet in line with current dietary guidelines.
Fact 3 Sugars Do Not Cause Obesity,
Diabetes and Other Serious Diseases
Sugars have a long history of safe use in foods.
In addition, many health aspects of sugars …show more content…
Today, even though most people can easily find the food sources they need forsurvival,we still are genetically inclined to like and enjoy sweet foods.This does not, however, mean that these foods are “addictive”.
Drugs of abuse are addictive in a way that individuals crave the substance and abuse it without control due to induced physiological changes in the brain. Food sustains life while these drugs do not.
Fact 6 Eliminating Sugars From Your Diet
Is Not Necessary in Order to Lose Weight
As sugars are ingredients in favorite foods it may be natural to suspect that they have a role in contributing to over-consumption and increased body weight. The truth is that many epidemiologic studies (studies that look at what large groups of people are eating and their health status) have shown that high sucrose
(sugar) diets are not linked to higher body weight or higher body mass index (BMI). In fact, high sugar intakes are often linked to lower
BMI. Several studies have found that as the percent of sugar in the diet increases, body weight and BMI decrease. In its 2002 report on