How bad is sugar really?

We have all heard that sugar is bad for our bodies. It gives us empty calories and packs on the weight bringing about disease and metabolic syndrome. How bad is it really and are all sugars equally as bad for you?

All sugar is not created equal, no pun intended! Lactose, glucose, fructose, maple syrup, honey etc., are all names of sugars but each of this has a different impact on your body because each has different molecular structures and the less you eat, the healthier you will be.

You can’t argue with me that the harmful effects of sugar are now indisputable, nonetheless, we eat an incredible amount of it. The average American consumes 3 pounds of this harmful substance a week. It tastes delicious and scratches that center in our brain that causes addiction. Many studies and brain scans suggest that it’s just as addictive as opium and cocaine.

Because of this knowledge, many are trying to choose a healthier sugar looking for the more natural options at the grocery store. If you look you’ll see them everywhere but are they any better for you then refined sugar? I have always said that knowledge is power so here is just some information about different sugars.

Sugar right? Wrong. Refined sugar has absolutely no nutritional redemptive value it’s empty calories, and trust me it does have calories! Most sugar has been genetically modified. Genetically modified foods are absolutely horrible and something that you need to avoid at all costs. Please don’t buy white sugar, or powdered sugar very addictive and very bad for you.

So what about brown sugar? Commercially processed brown sugar is really white sugar with molasses added, that’s what gives it its color and flavor. A bit tricky I know, don’t be fooled by this. It is still empty calories and still just as bad for you.

Remember refined anything is not that good for you. Evaporated cane juice is made from sugarcane and it’s a little less refined then white sugar so it has more color, flavor, and nutrients than the refined white sugar, however, the only difference between them is that evaporated cane just goes through one less step of refinement.

So what is raw organic cane sugar? This sugar is less processed than refined white sugar, and still has some of the original nutrients that were there in the original cane juice. Some of these include vitamins minerals, amino acids, and even a bit of antioxidant. Organic means no pesticides that are in commercially grown sugar which is good. Although this is a better choice white sugar it’s still sugar so you need to watch your serving size and eat as little amounts as possible

Coconut sugar to sugar that is taken from the juice of the coconut tree you’re a pretty natural process. They extracted juice and allow the water from the juice to evaporate, a very natural process. So process wise it’s one of the most sustainable ways to pretty sugar and the final product has a small amount of fiber and other nutrients. It also has a lower percentage of fructose then the other sugars we talked about which does make it perhaps a bit healthier than other options.

Honey is a very good natural sweetener that has a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients which helps to nourish and revitalize your body. It also contains unique antimicrobial properties that can help you fight off infections. Honey has been used for hundreds of years, in fact, it was one of the most popular ancient Egyptian healing remedies. But again you need to be careful how much you use.

One of my favorite sweeteners is Stevia. Stevia comes from a plant, does not raise your glycemic index, is extremely sweet and has no calories. It comes in many flavors, and you can either buy drops or powder.

These are just a few of the sugars out there that happen to be the most popular. Although sugar can be very hazardous to your health there are two factors that are critical, what kind of sugar you eat but how much of it you eat.

Moderation is key. The things that grow and you’ll be healthy and look healthy. Once you stay away from sugar, you will be amazed at how sweet fruit tastes.