FAQs
What is sugar?
Sugar (sucrose) is a carbohydrate found naturally in every fruit and vegetable. It is the major product of photosynthesis - the process used by plants to transform the sun's energy into food, in the form of the sugar molecules glucose and fructose. Bonded together, glucose and fructose form sucrose.
What is sucrose?
Sucrose is the technical name for sugar. All plants produce sucrose by photosynthesis, but sugar cane and sugar beets are the only plants that make enough sucrose for commercial production.
Is the sugar in fruit better for you than table sugar?
It's all the same substance: sucrose. The body uses sugar from sugar cane and sugar beets in the same way as the sugars in fruit and vegetables. The sugars found in all carbohydrate foods all become glucose, fuel for the body.
Why is sugar used in so many food products?
In addition to providing a sweet flavor, sugar performs a variety of functions in food products. In baked goods, sugar holds moisture and prevents staleness. It enhances texture and color in canned fruits and vegetables. It is also used as a preservative, inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms in foods such as jam and jelly. Sugar is also used to improve the texture of frozen sweet mixtures, like ice cream, and to support fermentation in products containing yeast, such as bread and alcoholic beverages.
How much sugar do most people eat?
In the last 20 years, we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. by 26 pounds, to 135 lbs. of sugar per person per year. The average American consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar each week. Prior to the 20th century the average consumption was only 5 lbs. per person per year. It's no coincidence that sugar-related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer were virtually unknown in the early 1900s.
Why do we consume so much more sugar now?
Food processors have learned that sugar seems to make everything taste better. Highly refined sugars such as sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are processed into many foods including bread, crackers, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and frozen meals.
What is the Glycemic Index?
The "glycemic index" is a numerical index given to a carbohydrate-rich food. It measures how a type of food affects blood-glucose levels, and each food is assigned a numbered rating. A high rating means that blood-glucose levels are increased quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. These rapid fluctuations of blood-sugar levels are not healthy because of the stress they place on the body. A lower glycemic index rating means a more gradual, healthier flow of sugars into the bloodstream.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone, secreted by special cells in the pancreas. It regulates the surge of glucose through the bloodstream after a meal. The body uses insulin to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level. Insulin also promotes the conversion of sugar to fat.
How does sugar affect insulin?
An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin. Over time, this process weakens the immune system and can lead to illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
What other effects does sugar have?
Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health:
- Sugar can suppress the immune system.
- Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
- Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
- Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
- Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
- Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
- Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
- Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
- Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
- Sugar can cause kidney damage.
- Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
- Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
- Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
- Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
- Sugar can promote tooth decay.
- Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
- Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
- Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
- Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
- Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
- Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
- High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
- Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
- Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
- Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
- Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
- Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
- Sugar causes food allergies.
- Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
- Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
- Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
- Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
- Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
- Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
- Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
- Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
- Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
- Sugar can cause depression.
- Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
- Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
- Sugar can cause hypertension.
- Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
- Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
- Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
- Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
- Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.
Source: www.healingdaily.com
How does SugarGuard™ help?
SugarGuard™ helps to lower the overall sugar levels contained in various food and beverages, and to moderate the rate of sugar absorption within the body.
Can I taste SugarGuard™?
No. SugarGuard™ has a clean, neutral flavor that is undetectable in appearance and taste.
Is SugarGuard™ gritty?
No. SugarGuard™ is water soluble and has no discernable texture.
Is SugarGuard™ a chemical?
No, it is a specialized blend of all natural ingredients.
Does it cause allergic or gastric reactions?
Because is it all natural and derived from non-allergenic sources, SugarGuard™ is easily assimilated by the body, causing no allergic or gastric upset.
Is it available by itself, or only in products?
SugarGuard™ is an ingredient system used by our research and development formulators, and is not available for retail purchase.
When was SugarGuard™ created?
SugarGuard™ was developed in 2006 by leading edge researchers in the growing field of "functional foods."