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| Sugar Versus Sweetener |
What's the difference, why should you use one over another, make your choice right now
Sugar Cane: This tall cane-shaped plant (Saccharum officinarum) is the main source of sugar in tropical countries.
Sugar Beet: The main source of sugar in temperate climates, known botanically as Beta vulgaris. The root, which is the main storage organ for the sugar, looks like a large white turnip.
Artificial Sweeteners: Natural sweeteners are prepared from natural materials, e.g., sugar from plants such as sugar-beet or sugar cane. Artificial sweeteners are designed by man, and usually prepared by a chemical process. They are designed to supply sweetness on its own, i.e., without the carbohydrate food values which are associated with sugar. They are used by consumers who may believe it disadvantageous to use sugars for sweetening foods and drinks.
Caster Sugar: This is usually produced by screening the finer crystals from ordinary granulated sugar. Its grain size is typically less than 0.3 mm in length, as against some 0.5 - 0.7mm for the usual granulated crystal.
Sucrose: This is the technical name for table sugar. Sucrose is the first storage molecule produced in all green plants. It is also the main carrier of energy from one part of the plant to another, in all plant life. In this way it fulfils a role in the plant similar to that of glucose in the animal. (See Glucose).
Glucose: A monosaccharide sugar originating in plants and used in animals to carry energy throughout the body, just as sucrose is the main carrier of energy throughout the plant. It is prepared industrially by the hydrolysis of starch. (See Sucrose).
Diabetes: Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the body's metabolism resulting from the inability of the pancreas to manufacture enough insulin, thus allowing a higher than normal level of glucose in the blood. Diet:
Insulin: This hormone is formed in the pancreas. It controls the uptake of glucose by body cells, particularly in muscles and in the liver. In this manner, it controls the level of glucose in the blood. Any deficiency in the insulin function will allow the glucose to accumulate in excess. If this excess becomes chronic, it leads to the condition known as diabetes mellitus.
Intensive Sweeteners: These are sweeteners which contain a very large amount of sweetness in a very small amount of sweetener. They are usually prepared by synthetic chemistry and they provide little or no energy. If used to excess they may displace sugar (which is a nutritive carbohydrate) from the diet bringing about an increased intake of fat. This can in turn lead to obesity and related disorders.
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