Common Sugar Myths And Facts

Sugar is a sweet, crystalline substance that is commonly used as a sweetener in food and beverages. It is derived from various sources, including sugar cane, sugar beets, and corn. Sugar comes in many forms, including granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup. While sugar is a source of energy for the body, consuming excessive amounts of sugar can have negative health consequences, such as obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. As a result, there has been increased awareness of the importance of reducing sugar intake in recent years, leading to the development of alternative sweeteners and increased scrutiny of the sugar content in processed foods. 

1.     Myth: Sugar is addictive.

Fact: There is no scientific evidence that says sugar is addictive, all we know is that it tastes good, and eating it makes people feel good.

 

2.     Myth: White sugar is bleached to give it its color.

Fact: Natural sugar is white. The naturally occurring brown molasses are actually soil and other unwanted material which is removed while processing, thus leaving the sugar white.

 

3.     Myth: Sugar is highly processed.

Fact: It is a minimally processed food, and you can even extract sugar at home.

 

4.     Myth: Kids get a “sugar high” and become hyperactive.

Fact: Research has proved that sugar has no effect on behavior and cognition.

 

5.     Myth: Sugar causes diabetes.

Fact: Studies show that sugar and diabetes have no direct link. However, it does play a role in increasing the likelihood to develop obesity and thus may indirectly affect blood sugar levels.

 

6.     Myth: Sugar can cause cancer.

Fact: Scientists do not yet have any evidence of a direct link between sugar and cancer. Though it may indirectly increase susceptibility to the disease because of its role in developing obesity.

 

7.     Myth: Brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup are healthier alternatives.

Fact: From a nutritional point of view, all these are quite similar to white sugar, i.e. 1 gram provides 4 kilocalories of energy with few other nutrients.

 

8.     Myth: Artificial sweeteners are better.

Fact: Although they have fewer calories, research shows that participants who drank diet soda are twice as likely to be obese than those who do not.

 

9.     Myth: You should eliminate sugar from your diet.

Fact: It is quite impossible to completely eliminate sugar from your diet as food such as fruits, potatoes, and other starchy foods all have some form of sugar. More importantly, even though excessive intake of sugar is bad, we do need some amount of sugar in our diet to function properly.

 

10.  Myth: “Reduced sugar” means lesser calories.

Fact: When sugar is removed from a food, other ingredients are added to replace it and these ingredients often have a similar amount of calories if not more. So, it is best to compare product labels and see the entire nutrient package to establish whether the product with reduced sugar does indeed have fewer calories or not.