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Originally Posted October 2017 | Updated September 2022
Do you love sweets? Me too! Sugar is often misunderstood. And contrary to what many believe, sugar isn’t always “bad.”
Sugar is in many foods—including the ones you’d expect, like cookies and soft drinks, as well as ones that might surprise you, like bread and even potatoes. While certain foods, like fruits and juices, contain sugar naturally, added sugars are added during the processing of foods.
We need sugar, or more specifically, we need glucose to fuel our bodies. Though we don’t need added sugars to function, they add a sweet, fun element to our lives. There are many healthy alternatives to sweetening your food in place of sugar, but first, let's start with the basics.
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate made of molecules called saccharides. All kinds of sugar are eventually broken down into glucose, the sugar our bodies use for fuel.
There are two categories of sugar—natural and added. Natural sugars are found in fruits and vegetables and are unprocessed. Added sugars are put into foods by manufacturers to make them taste better. Foods containing these two types of sugars can be classified as simple or complex carbohydrates, depending on how fast your body digests and absorbs them.
The glycemic index (GI) is a tool used to measure how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels. Typically, foods with simple carbohydrates tend to have a higher GI, while foods with more complex carbohydrates have a lower GI.
Understanding the different types of sugar and how they affect your body can be complicated, but it is essential for maintaining your health. The average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar every day.1 This isn’t hard to believe when there are over 56 different names for sugar out there! Sweeteners added to foods fall into one of four categories — naturally occurring, refined, artificial, and sugar alcohols.
Sugar comes from many different sources. Some foods, like fruits and vegetables, naturally contain sugar. Added sugars are added by manufacturers to sweeten the taste of food.
Added sugars come in many different varieties. The most common added sugar is sugarcane, but sugar beets, a root crop, are also frequently used. Both sugarcane and sugar beets are grown like any other field crop. However, different manufacturers process sugarcane in different ways.
As a vegan, it’s important to know that some companies use an activated carbon filter made of bone char. Bone char is derived from cows and is used to filter sugar to give it its white color.2 Though bone char does not become part of the sugar, some vegans may choose to avoid these types of sugar. Sugar beets do not undergo this process unless they are cross-contaminated with sugarcane. Be sure to check a sugar’s label to know if it is vegan.
All sugars are comprised of molecules called saccharides. Sugars with one sugar molecule, like glucose, are called monosaccharides. Those with two sugar molecules, like table sugar, are called disaccharides.
The most common types of sugars include:
The main difference between naturally occurring and added sugar is that foods with naturally occurring sugar provide nutrients, fiber, and minerals our bodies need in addition to energy from sugar. The American Heart Association recommends you limit added sugar to less than 6% of your total daily calories—this amounts to about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men.4 If you are trying to reduce your intake of added sugar, alternative sweeteners may be a good option.
With so many sugar alternatives on the market today it can be confusing to know which to choose. The healthiest alternative sweeteners are lower on the glycemic index, have minimal impact on blood sugar levels, and don’t cause digestive issues like gas or bloating. Here are some great healthy sweeteners you can try.
Sugar alternatives are generally much sweeter than standard sugar. When cooking with most sugar substitutes, cut the sugar in the recipe by half unless noted.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 suggest that people over two years limit their added sugar intake to less than 10% of their total daily calorie intake.5 It also sets an overall health goal in the United States to reduce added sugar consumption.
Though you should limit added sugars, you generally don’t need to limit naturally occurring sugar from fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients along with naturally occurring sugar, providing longer-lasting energy to fuel your day. You’re unlikely to consume too much sugar from whole plant-based food sources.
Sweetener alternatives can significantly reduce sugar intake while continuing to eat sweet foods you enjoy. Restricting all added sugar can result in sugar cravings and isn’t always a sustainable option for those of us who love sweets. Allowing yourself to have these foods occasionally is a healthy way to balance your diet.
Too much added sugar can increase your risk of chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.6 The best way to limit your sugar intake is to eat less packaged and processed foods and increase the number of whole plant foods in each meal. Here are some tips for reducing the amount of added sugar you eat:
Diets loaded with added sugar can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Healthy sweetener alternatives can help you limit your added sugar intake and avoid some of its adverse impacts on your health. Choose one that works best for you and your lifestyle.
Remember, while you aim to limit the amount of sugar you eat, restricting yourself too much can lead to feelings of guilt and shame when you do eat sugar. Using the sugar alternatives above may help you reach your health goals easier while still enjoying some sweetness in your diet.
References:
By Rhyan Geiger, RDN
