Sugar is in almost everything we eat, whether we know it or not. There are two types of sugars, natural and refined. Today we will be exploring the differences between the two.
Natural sugars are found in raw products such as fruits and milk products. They occur naturally and produce important nutrients to the body. The foods that natural sugar are found are also very healthy as they have many important vitamins and minerals. Because of the benefits that the foods carry, natural sugar is considered a lot healthier than refined sugar. Despite of this, natural sugars aren’t healthy when the vitamins are stripped from the food, for example, when making juice. Maple syrup and honey are also examples of natural sugars, but are both not very healthy.
Refined sugar is extracted and processed from sugar canes or beets, and comes in the form of physical sugar that you buy in the grocery store. Most of the foods that include refined sugar are quite unhealthy and don’t provide much nutritional value. High Fructose Corn Syrup is also a type of refined sugar, and had been proven to be extremely unhealthy. It can be found in many highly processed foods, and has been linked to obesity. Refined sugars have been found to increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases. Though it may sound scary, refined sugars are alright as long as they are consumed in moderation and in combination with a balanced diet.
Overall, natural sugars are healthier than refined sugars most of the time, but both can and should be enjoyed in moderation!
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