Sugar is found naturally in all foods that contain carbohydrates such as grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Consuming these whole foods that contain sugar is not harmful to our bodies. On the contrary, due to having fibers, antioxidants, and essential minerals, fruits and vegetables are healthier sources for our body health. The natural sugar in fruits, vegetables, and grains offers energy to our cells which is essential for us.
But many health problems occur when we consume added sugar. Today, the daily diet of many adults, especially young people includes a high amount of sugar added foods. The top sources of the items of the diets are soft drinks, fruit drinks, flavored yogurts, cereals, cookies, cakes, candy, and most processed foods.
In the packed food, a high amount of sugar is used to increase the appreciation of industrial products or to extend its shelf life. The usage of sugar, which turns into an addiction over time, is increasing day by day. Accordingly, there are also increasing rates of diseases: such as diabetes, obesity, heart diseases. These are not the only problems caused by sugar. Consuming a high amount of sugar also causes fatty liver diseases, higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, high stress, tooth decay, affected immune function, essential nutrients deficiency.
What are added sugars names on labels?
We hardly come across the word "sugar" on labels. We can understand whether there is sugar in the content by the following names: corn sweetener, corn syrup, fruit juice concentrates, high-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, malt sugar, molasses, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose.
Where does your added sugar come from?
Rank Food group Proportion of average intake
1 Soda/energy/sports drinks 42.2%
2 Grain-based desserts 11.9%
3 Fruit drinks 8.5%
4 Dairy desserts 5.5%
5 Candy 5.0%
6 Ready-to-eat cereals 2.9%
7 Sugars/honey 4.1%
8 Tea 3.8%
9 Yeast breads 2.3%
10 Syrups/toppings 1.4%
Source: CDC, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–06.
What can we substitute for sugar?
Only the replacement of sugar does not solve all the problems. Despite there are many alternatives to sugar in natural or artificial sweeteners, each has potential benefits and negatives depending on your goals. Therefore, consultation with your doctor is always the best way to choose the proper sweetener for your diet. The best option of sugar alternative for you and having a balanced amount of consumption sound a good way to a healthy diet.
All-natural sweetener alternatives: monk fruit sweetness, agave nectar, raw honey, coconut sugar, date, and maple syrup.
Yes, we have options for homemade preparations but what about industrial production? Replacement ingredients and apply the new recipe, using the new mix in the process line are quite challenging.
Monk fruit sweetness is the key product for industrial use with both powder and liquid options.
Example: Usage Monk Fruit Sweetness for Beverage Applications
Step 1: Determine how many Brix of sugar you want to replace
Step 2: Determine the pH
Step 3: Look at the chart which is given with our products
For other recipes, please write us on www.atmarbio.com
If you want to replace 3 Brix of sugar in a beverage application:
For a pH 3.2 product use 0.34 Monk Fruit Concentrate per 100 g of the finished product. This will add 0.88 calories per 100 grams of the final product.
For a milk product use 0.17 Monk Fruit Concentrate per 100 g of the finished product. This will add 0.44 calories per 100 grams of the final product.