Daily Dose of Common Sense

There is a lot of talk these days about sugar in various forms. Whether it’s the raw stuff, high-fructose corn syrup, or agave nectar, people are debating what sugar is good for you and what sugar is bad for you. Guess what? It’s all sugar! And, it all has calories.

So what’s the difference between all the sugar products out there? Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart Magazine has a great breakdown in their July issue.

Raw Sugar and Natural Sweetners

Raw sugar, honey, molasses, and maple syrup are generally considered “natural” sweeteners. But, warning! You still have to use it in moderation. Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you. These have just as many empty calories as the next sweetener.

Agave Nectar

This sweetener, made from plants, is usually marketed as a healthy alternative for sweetening. Sold in vitamin shops and carrying a “certified organic” label, you might think this product is actually good for you. Wrong! After testing, ShopSmart Mag said to skip it. Agave nectar costs way more than sugar and it’s mostly fructose.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Here is Public Enemy #1. HFCS is being blamed for the obesity epidemic in this country, mainly because,

It is a marker for junk foods. Cheaper than sucrose, it turns up in all kinds of processed foods, particularly soft drinks. And there is nearly as much of it in the food supply as sucrose – 56 pounds per year per person versus 62 pounds for table sugar.

But, your body can hardly tell the difference. Sugar is sugar. Watch this report from NBC’s Nightly News:

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The Center for Consumer Freedom commented on this video by saying:

“High fructose corn syrup is one of the most misunderstood products in the food supply,” said Harvard’s David Ludwig last night on NBC Nightly News. That’s because sugar is sugar, whether it’s made from beets, cane, or corn. All are nearly identical in molecular composition, and exactly equal in sweetness and calorie content.

The average American currently consumes about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. How much should we have? Well, the American Heart Association recommendations 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 teaspoons a day for men. So, we consume way more than we should, no matter in what form.

The bottom line, according to ShopSmart, is to, “choose the sugar you like best, but use it in moderation and don’t fool yourself into thinking any of it (unless it comes in a shiny apple) is health food.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 10:03 am and is filed under Food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.