When you are avoiding sugar to improve your health, you should understand the different names that manufacturers use for this sweet substance. Here is a list of the names used for the added sugar in foods and beverages:
• Fructose sweetener
• Evaporated cane juice
• Crystal dextrose
• Corn syrup
• Cane sugar
• Corn sweetener
• Brown sugar
• Fruit juice
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Dextrose
• Maltose
• Agave nectar
This is a partial list of the names for sugar because manufacturers create new types of sweeteners occasionally. To determine if a product at the grocery store has any type of sugar, you must read the small print on the package’s label. Remember that the beverages and foods that are labeled as natural, organic, healthy, or low-calorie can still have added sugar. In addition, some foods contain natural sugars, but these types of foods frequently have high levels of minerals, fiber, and vitamins.
Why Should You Detoxify From Sugar?
There are several reasons why you might want to detoxify from sugar. If you have a health condition such as diabetes mellitus or fibromyalgia, then avoiding sugar can improve your health. You may also feel as though you have an addiction to sugar that makes you want to consume huge amounts of sugar-filled soft drinks and candy.
If you consume sugary foods or beverages to lift your mood, then you should understand that the natural chemicals in sugar will change the pattern of your brain waves, affecting the emotional area of your brain. Sugar can damage your cardiovascular system because it increases your cholesterol levels, and it can lead to high blood pressure. When you consume a lot of sugar, it can also increase the uric acid levels in your blood, leading to conditions such as gouty arthritis.
Excessive amounts of sugar can also cause tooth decay because bacteria thrive in the plaque that forms on your teeth after you consume sugary foods. If you are consuming sugar-filled foods and beverages instead of healthy vegetables and lean proteins, then you may have a bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. Experts also believe that sugar damages the collagen in your upper skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles at an earlier age.
Foods with Hidden Sugar
Many foods have hidden sugar, that you would not expect. By reading labels and knowing the different names used for sugar, you will be able to avoid it or reduce it as needed. Here is a list of some foods that often have hidden sugars:
- Sauces and condiments
- Baked goods
- Frozen foods
- Packaged and processed foods
- Bacon and sausage
- Deli meats
- Canned foods