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The world has declared a sugar timeout. The harmful relationship between disease and dietary sugar was recently outlined in a paper. comprehensive evaluation of published research.
Recognizing the link between widely consumed foods and disease change harmful outcomes. These include coronary heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and some cancers. For over 10 years, my research have focused on the mechanisms by which fructose intake contributes to disease.
A growing number of African countries are joining global efforts to reduce sugar intake.For example, in an attempt to address obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, South Africa Tax on sugary drinks In 2018.
It’s hard to avoid sugar when it’s part of your diet or when you celebrate special occasions with sweet treats. But being more aware of what sugar is and how it affects our health is the first step.
What is sugar?
Sugar is a type of naturally sweetening molecule found in fruits, vegetables, plants, and mammalian milk. These natural resources can be extracted and concentrated into processed foods.
The sweet molecules in sucrose (sugar) are glucose and fructose.
Sucrose is a disaccharide. It is a molecule in which two monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) are chemically linked in a 1:1 ratio. Sucrose is used in many processed foods.
High fructose corn syrup, also used in processed foods, is a mixture of the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. Typically, the combination is 45% glucose and 55% fructose.
Sucrose and high fructose corn syrup are found in more processed foods than fruits and vegetables.
Both are considered added sugars. added to food and drinks. In addition to the sweet taste, Added To adjust color and texture, as a preservative, or to aid in fermentation.
There are other naturally occurring sugars in the foods we eat. Lactose, or milk sugar, is a disaccharide composed of two monosaccharides (glucose and galactose) in a 1:1 ratio. It is found in the milk of mammals, is produced naturally to nourish their offspring, and is also found in other dairy products such as cheese and ice cream.
