Is Cane Sugar Preferable To Refined Sugar?
In recent years, refined sugar has been replaced by other substances that are apparently better for health. An example is cane sugar. Over time, the belief has spread that cane sugar is healthier than refined sugar.
This product, however, simply has a lower level of processing than ordinary sugar. Therefore, it retains almost all the properties of common table sugar and its health impact is very similar. Therefore, it does not offer greater benefits than the first nor is it harmless to health.
The amount of fiber is slightly higher in brown sugar , although that doesn’t necessarily make it better than refined. Compared to other foods, the amount of fiber remains negligible. On the other hand, the glycemic index and the pancreatic response to its ingestion are totally similar.
Sugar in industry
Sugar is one of the most used products in industry. It has antimicrobial properties, so it improves food storage. It is also able to improve the organoleptic properties making other foods tastier.
However, it is a food related to the appearance of many complex diseases such as diabetes or cancer. In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has limited its consumption in an attempt to reduce the rate of obesity .
One of the problems with systematically adding sugar to products is the addiction that comes with it. Sugar should be a food mainly reserved for sports, instead it has become one of the most consumed substances by the general population.
The name doesn’t matter: brown or white sugar, it’s always sugar
Currently, and after the awareness campaign to reduce sugar intake, we find variants on the market with different names, but which are actually the same as the classic white sugar. Brown sugar, coconut sugar … they are all products that have sugar as the main ingredient in their composition .
The effects of these products are quite similar and extolling their differences is nothing more than a marketing operation. It is therefore advisable to reduce the consumption of all these foods.
On the other hand, it is better to increase the intake of low-glycemic carbohydrates and foods rich in fiber, which protect intestinal health. At the same time, it is good to increase the intake of essential fats, albeit as part of a normal-calorie diet.
A good way to reduce sugar consumption is to replace it with artificial sweeteners, but without overdoing it . These products are typically tested in the laboratory, although not all long-term side effects are known.
Intermittent fasting to counteract the problems caused by excess sugar
A very trendy strategy for losing weight and preventing the onset of diabetes is intermittent fasting . In this way we can remedy, if we intervene in time, the insulin resistance triggered by a high consumption of sugar.
Currently, the most popular intermittent fasting protocol due to its convenience is 16: 8. This scheme consists of spending six hours a day without ingesting calorie foods . During this time, the AMPK metabolic pathway is activated, responsible for the catabolic processes and the production of energy from fat burning.
Following this, fasting helps you lose weight, as it also significantly reduces the amount of calories consumed per week. Skipping breakfast is usually an effective intermittent fasting. It is also the meal in which, generally, we include the greatest amount of sugary, industrial or low-quality foods.
Is brown sugar better than white sugar? Conclusions
Even if the food industry tries to present this product under different names and in different forms, the quality does not change. Brown sugar is very similar to white sugar in almost all respects.
This means that it is a food that should not be consumed in excess. In this way we will avoid the problems related to obesity or the appearance of complex diseases.
An interesting strategy could be to switch sugar consumption with synthetic sweeteners, but always in moderation. Another interesting option is intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast, which is the critical meal in terms of sugar intake.
