Sugar and glucose are carbohydrates as nutrients. Glucose is the substance in which sugar and starch are converted after digestion. This is used by the body as an energy source to keep everything working properly.
There are all kinds of different types of sugars , such as fruit sugars and milk sugars . But here we focus briefly on the granulated sugars, from sugar beet and sugar cane. This is the sweetener that is most commonly added to our food.
Addictive?
Officially, sugar is not addictive, because you will not experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. But sugar does release dopamine in your brain. And because this gives a nice feeling, you will be rewarded when you eat it. This naturally makes it very difficult for children to stop. They are not yet aware of the possible consequences and therefore do not easily choose to ignore that pleasant feeling.
Risks
There is not much to worry about with normal sugar intake. But too much can lead to obesity. The fact that you consume too much sugar can also be caused by drinking sweet drinks. What people often forget here is that not only soft drinks contain a lot of sugar. Fruit juices and thick juice are also high in the sugars. A link is therefore made between soft drinks and obesity, but also with type 2 diabetes.
In addition, sugar is also a cause of dental problems. Many people still think that it doesn’t matter that much with baby teeth, because children lose them anyway. But infections of the primary teeth can also have an effect on the permanent teeth afterwards.
It is good to keep in mind that all types of sugar are processed in the same way and contain about the same number of calories. So whether you use honey, palm sugar, agave syrup or granulated sugar, it has the same effect on the body.
