Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar
Nutritionally, white and brown sugar are very similar, with brown sugar containing slightly less energy. One of the most significant nutritional differences between white and brown sugar is that brown sugar has slightly higher levels of potassium, iron and calcium than its white sugar counterpart. However, the differences between the two sugars are negligible in our diets.
Brown sugar is white sugar with the presence of molasses. Molasses gives the sugar more moisture (which makes its texture softer), a darker colour and a mild caramel taste. Molasses is naturally found in sugar cane and sugar beet plants and is separated from the sugar crystals to produce pure white sugar in the refining process. The main difference between white and brown sugar is their taste and colour, so replacing white sugar with brown sugar in recipes will affect the colour of the food and give it a caramel or light brown colour. From a nutritional point of view, there are no advantages to using white sugar over brown sugar or vice versa.
Brown sugar is white sugar with the presence of molasses. Molasses gives the sugar more moisture (which makes its texture softer), a darker colour and a mild caramel taste. Molasses is naturally found in sugar cane and sugar beet plants and is separated from the sugar crystals to produce pure white sugar in the refining process. The main difference between white and brown sugar is their taste and colour, so replacing white sugar with brown sugar in recipes will affect the colour of the food and give it a caramel or light brown colour. From a nutritional point of view, there are no advantages to using white sugar over brown sugar or vice versa.
Sugar is as addictive as drugs
We often use sugar as a reward for children, for example for good results at school, and we reward ourselves with it after a stressful day, to celebrate birthdays or special achievements. Eating sugar causes our bodies to release endorphins and dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the ‘reward circuit’ and addictive behaviour. Dopamine causes pleasurable feelings that motivate us to repeat the behaviour that triggered it. When we repeat these behaviours, the brain adapts and releases less dopamine, leading to the need to consume more sugar to achieve the same feelings. This can lead to sugar abuse as it activates opiate receptors in the brain and affects the reward centre. The result is compulsive behaviour and craving for sugar despite negative consequences such as weight gain, headaches and hormonal imbalances. Every time we consume sweets, we reinforce these brain pathways, which increases our tolerance and need for more sugar.
From an evolutionary perspective, it is natural to have a desire for food to survive, but this desire can turn into an unhealthy addiction to tasty food, which can negatively affect the well-being of some people, especially obese and bulimic patients. The concept of ‘food addiction’ has taken root in the diet industry. The rise in obesity and scientific findings about the similarities between drugs of abuse and palatable foods have reinforced this idea. Research shows that intermittent access to sugar can lead to behavioral and neurochemical changes similar to the effects of addictive substances. Studies in rats suggest that intermittent access to sugar and food can induce addiction, manifested by overeating, withdrawal symptoms or cravings.
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to health problems such as weight gain, headaches and hormonal imbalances. That’s why moderation and a balanced diet is best for health, helping to keep the body and mind in balance and avoid the negative consequences of overeating sugar.
From an evolutionary perspective, it is natural to have a desire for food to survive, but this desire can turn into an unhealthy addiction to tasty food, which can negatively affect the well-being of some people, especially obese and bulimic patients. The concept of ‘food addiction’ has taken root in the diet industry. The rise in obesity and scientific findings about the similarities between drugs of abuse and palatable foods have reinforced this idea. Research shows that intermittent access to sugar can lead to behavioral and neurochemical changes similar to the effects of addictive substances. Studies in rats suggest that intermittent access to sugar and food can induce addiction, manifested by overeating, withdrawal symptoms or cravings.
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to health problems such as weight gain, headaches and hormonal imbalances. That’s why moderation and a balanced diet is best for health, helping to keep the body and mind in balance and avoid the negative consequences of overeating sugar.
Sugar causes diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle, but occurs when the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This autoimmune disease usually begins in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong insulin administration to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is a complex disease influenced by multiple factors, including genetics and lifestyle. Although sugar does not directly cause type 2 diabetes, eating a diet high in sugar can lead to overweight or obesity, which greatly increases the likelihood of developing it. Obesity causes insulin resistance, in which the body is unable to use insulin effectively, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to monitor sugar intake and maintain a healthy weight to minimize the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Sugar causes hyperactivity
The sugar overactivity myth is based on a single study from the mid-1970s. Since then, more than a dozen larger studies have been conducted without proving that sugar causes hyperactivity.
When you eat glucose, your body quickly responds by releasing insulin, which gets this glucose into your cells and keeps your glucose in the normal range. Thus, it is rare to reach high blood sugar levels. And a recent meta-analysis examining more than 31 studies concluded that eating carbohydrates had no effect on mood and did not lead to an increase in energy. This may not be consistent with your experience. Maybe you really do feel a burst of energy from eating your favorite doughnut. So what’s going on? Well, this feeling you’re having may have less to do with your blood sugar levels and more to do with the fact that sugar causes the brain to release dopamine and opioids – chemicals that give you a feeling of pleasure.
When you eat glucose, your body quickly responds by releasing insulin, which gets this glucose into your cells and keeps your glucose in the normal range. Thus, it is rare to reach high blood sugar levels. And a recent meta-analysis examining more than 31 studies concluded that eating carbohydrates had no effect on mood and did not lead to an increase in energy. This may not be consistent with your experience. Maybe you really do feel a burst of energy from eating your favorite doughnut. So what’s going on? Well, this feeling you’re having may have less to do with your blood sugar levels and more to do with the fact that sugar causes the brain to release dopamine and opioids – chemicals that give you a feeling of pleasure.