The first is glucose in its pure form. And its usefulness lies in feeding the body energy, high breakdown rate, participation in the circulation of the brain and spinal cord, the prevention of sclerotic changes and the development of arthritis. There are also harmful effects of sugar on the body. It can include an increase in the risk of obesity and pancreatic stress, damage to the teeth, etc. Therefore, in order to avoid negative effects, one should control the consumption of sugar or switch to sugar substitutes, but this should also be done with caution.

The motives for using sugar substitutes instead of sugar are varied. Often they are related to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, a healthy diet, the desire to lose weight, or for medical reasons. In order to individually choose the most useful product for yourself, it is necessary to understand the difference between sweeteners and sugar, which sweetener to choose at PP, which sugars are better and much more.

Natural useful and artificial sweeteners: types and features

Which sugar substitute to choose? They are all subdivided into natural and artificial sweeteners. The first are a sugar substitute of plant origin. Synthetic ones are a product made in chemical laboratories. Natural and artificial sugars have their own characteristics. The latter are calorie-free and completely eliminated from the body, while plant-based ones have different degrees of caloric content, but their breakdown, unlike sugar, is much slower, without a sharp release of insulin into the blood. The exceptions are stevia and erythritol, which have no energy value and do not participate in carbohydrate metabolism, although they belong to the natural sweeteners. The glycemic index of vegetable sweeteners varies by species.

The main natural and synthetic sugar substitutes

– Fructose is a sweetener made from natural fruits. The sweetest of natural sugars, allows heat treatment. Very caloric, in excess has a bad effect on the liver, cardiovascular system.
– Xylitol and sorbitol – sugar alcohols, well assimilated by the body and metabolized by the liver, have a positive effect on dental enamel.
– Stevioside is an organic compound that comes from the stems of the stevia plant, which grows in South America. It is considered one of the best and safest sweeteners, but has a specific taste and aftertaste. How much sweeter is stevia than sugar? About 300 times sweeter.
– Isomalt is derived from sucrose. It is a low-calorie dietary product that does not affect tooth enamel.
– Erythritol (erythrole) is a sugar alcohol derived from corn, melon, pumpkin and other plants. It is easily absorbed and completely excreted in the urine without decomposition in 24 hours and does not cause tooth decay.
– Sucralose – approved for use in food as a sweetener.
– Inulin – an organic compound derived from fructose. It is found in many flowers, chicory, agave, and topinambur. It can cause digestive disorders and allergic reactions.