Is Natural Sugar Really Healthier Than Refined Sugar?
Sugar has been a controversial topic for several years when it comes to health and even cancer. The consequences of having too much of it can be very harmful, but we still need some sugar for energy sources. But, fruit is good for you, right? Fruit contains the same kind of properties that refined, processed sugars have, the difference is in the way our bodies digests them and the nutrients that are still present. Let's break it down.
What is refined sugar?
Refined sugar is often referred to as sucrose, which is a combination of fructose and glucose. It is basically sugar cane or sugar beets that have been processed to extract the sugar and stripped of all its vitamins and nutrients. They come in various forms and are in most sweets, but also hide in foods such as bread, salad dressing, pasta sauce, flavoring and low-fat foods. Refined sugars are often added to low-fat foods to add a little flavor, but can be counterproductive since added sugar can add to belly fat and deplete muscle mass.
What is natural sugar?
Natural sugars can be found in fruit as fructose, and milk and cheese as lactose.
Well that’s way less complicated than refined sugar. But why is it better?
Natural Sugar Helps You Maintain A Healthy Weight & Boosts The Immune System
Fruit and milk have fiber, which expands in your stomach, making you feel full longer. The body metabolized refined sugar too quickly, due to its lack of fiber, causing us to not feel full after eating it. This often causes us to overeat and can even make us crave more added sugar. Fruits also have vital nutrients, such as vitamin c and antioxidants, which help boost your immune system and fight disease. Try to stick with organic produce to avoid harmful chemicals used in the conventional growing process.
But Everything In Moderation, Even Natural Sugars
Regardless of what kind of sugar you eat, if your liver is already overloaded with sugar, then that sugar will be stored for energy or turned into fat. Even sweeteners that are marketed to us as natural can still overload your liver with excess sugar. Avoiding added or refined sugar gives you the ability to eat lots of nutritious fruit without having to worry about overloading your liver with sugar.
Keeping your sugar consumption and short and naturally sweet can help you boost your immune system and have energy that keeps you feeling full and satisfied. There’s no need to refine that perfectly natural process, so we’re officially breaking up with refined sugar. Are you?