Watch Out For Hidden Sugars!

Seriously. Are you as concerned as you should be? Are you aware of all the different names food companies hide sugar under? Sugar has many disguises and it is the one thing where a little sure does go a long way. Let's look at all of the different names sugar goes by. A little experiment, why don't you check around your fridge and cabinets and see how many foods you find sugar in that you never would have suspected it to be in. Leave your comments. Are you ready? Here we go.

· barley malt

· beet sugar

· brown sugar

· buttered syrup

· brown rice syrup

· cane juice crystals

· cane sugar

· caramel

· carob syrup

castor sugar

· corn syrup

· corn syrup solids

· date sugar

· dextran

· dextrose

· diatase

· diastatic malt

· ethyl maltol

· fructose

· fruit juice

· fruit juice concentrate

· glucose

· glucose solids

· golden sugar

· golden syrup

· grape sugar

· high-fructose corn syrup

· honey

· invert sugar

· lactose

· malt syrup

· maltodextrin

· maltose

· mannitol

· molasses

· raw sugar

· refiner's syrup

· sorbitol

· sorghum syrup

· sucrose

· sugar

· turbinado sugar

· yellow sugar

Here's a really in depth explanation of the Glycemic Index. One of the best, most concise articles I've come across. Dr's and researchers are beginning to agree on one major thing. The more you control your weight and insulin levels throughout your life, the healthier you are likely to be. When you keep your insulin levels in check, you also help keep hormonal balance in your body, which all helps keep disease away. Keeping blood sugar levels in balance throughout the day, affects everything from brain chemistry to vitamin and mineral absorption from the foods we are eating. Sugar usually interrupts the natural rhythm of things within our own bodies, unless of course it's naturally occurring in the food we're eating and not added in for flavor. Don't be fooled by "all natural cane sugar" or "organic brown rice syrup" or "barley malt" etc. These are all added sweeteners which are all different forms of sugar. It doesn't help if it sounds healthy or is called organic. Sure, some sweetners are better than others, for example agave nectar, stevia or even molasses, just because of how your body breaks them down and absorbs them. However these too, are sugars. Artificial Sugar substitutes, they are finding, actually are helping people gain weight, not lose it! They are not the "no calorie" sweetners they used to think they were.

Can't wait to hear what you discover!