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Sugar vs. Refined sugar vs. Healthy sugar...I am so confused

The reason why refined, sugar is bad for us is in how we process and metabolise it vs unrefined sugar. The refined sugar is broken down immediately, causing insulin and blood sugar levels to skyrocket. It is digested quickly so you don’t feel full after you eat it regardless on how many calories you consumed. All this energy if not burnt it is stored as fat and might lead to obesity. Although it is not proven that sugar may directly cause high cholesterol and hence heart desease as well as diabetes, obesity is linked to all of the above. Other research says it might be linked to leptin resistance (which may lead to obesity, sleep problems, cravings), it can create an addictive sugar response…

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 What is the Difference Between Refined and Unrefined Sugars?

In brief, refined sugar is sugar that has been processed in some form, or “refined.” In comparison to natural sugars, for example, those that are found occurring in fruits, milk, and other foods, refined sugar has a bit of direct human help in its creation. When you think of refined sugar, your first thought may be granulated table sugar – and you’d be correct, this is a very common form of refined sugar. Other very common forms of refined sugar include powdered sugar, corn syrups, evaporated cane juice, and most brown sugars. One of the defining characteristics of refined sugar is the presence of sucrose. All refined sugar touts sucrose as the main component. Solid refined sugars, including granulated white table sugar, are up to 99.9 percent sucrose. Liquid refined sugars, such as molasses or syrups, are up to 80% sucrose.

Articles of Interest

All you need to know about refined sugar

Western diets often include too much of a type of sugar called ‘refined sugar’. This is sugar which is extracted from the sugar cane or sugar beet plant and processed to remove its natural nutrients.

How does refined sugar impact health? Here’s what science has to say.

While enjoying the occasional bowl of ice cream may not be cause for concern, having too much sugar can lead to a myriad of health issues. From heart disease to cancer, here is what science has to say about the impact refined sugar has on your health.

How Sugar is Made and Why it’s Best to Avoid It

The sugar we use in commercial bakeries is chemically known as sucrose, a disaccharide of glucose and fructose. These two simple sugars (or monosaccharides) are carbohydrates that naturally form in plants through photosynthesis, which you probably learned about in grade school science.

Is Refined Sugar Really Toxic?

Most of you are probably aware that excess refined sugar isn’t great for your health. Sugar and HFCS are particularly detrimental when consumed in liquid form, because we don’t tend to compensate for calories we drink by reducing our calorie consumption elsewhere.

Natural vs Refined Sugar: Why the Difference Matters

Refined sugar, or sucrose, comes from sugar cane or sugar beets, which are processed to extract the sugar. Food manufacturers then add the chemically produced sugar, typically high-fructose corn syrup, to many packaged foods. The body breaks down refined sugar rapidly, which causes insulin and blood sugar levels to skyrocket. Since it is digested quickly, you don’t feel full after you’re done eating, regardless of how much you ate.

Refined Carbs and Sugar: The Diet Saboteurs

Bad or simple carbs are the comfort foods we often crave: pasta, fries, pizza, white bread, and sugary treats. Choosing good carbs instead can improve your health, mood, and waistline.

Top 10 Reasons to Avoid Refined Sugar

Refined sugar was practically nonexistent in the human meal plan until recent times. Today, the over-consumption of sugar is the number one cause of the American obesity epidemic. While the USDA recommends only 8 teaspoons (32 grams) of added sugar per day, the average American eats approximately 53 teaspoons (212 grams). It is loaded into the majority of processed foods, where it lurks in even the most unsuspecting places – breads, sauces, salad dressings, even frozen fruit!

Why Is White Sugar Bad For You?

Sugar makes life sweet… until it doesn’t. From ketchup, to yogurt, to bread, white sugar hides in many foods, even ones that look healthy. White sugar tantalizes our taste buds, but is white sugar bad for you? For years the finger pointed at saturated fat as the culprit behind our steeply declining health, but recently more experts are shining a light on refined sugar’s negative role.