Are natural sugars bad for you?

Question

I did some research but would like to double check.
I heard that, natural sugars e.g. being in fruit are okay as they're a complex carbohydrate and are absorbed by the body slowly so the insulin doesn't come quickly, whereas if you take a simple carb, the insulin kicks in fast to bring the blood sugar level down. When the insulin kicks in, triglyceride comes in which is converted from calories and stored as fat. So basically it all comes down to natural sugar being a complex (good) carbohydrate.
Is that correct?

Also, should I still not 'avoid' but not eat complex carbs if unnecessary. Just because they're not as bad as simple carbs, they're still not great... right?

Answer 1

Sugars are sugars... and have the same effect on your blood sugar. So, I believe the turm "natural sugars" is just a marketing gimmick since sugars are sugars.

Basic sugar molecules are (1 molecule)
Fructose: A simple sugar found in fruits, honey, and root vegetables.
Galactose: A simple sugar found in milk products.
Glucose: The main source of energy for the body and the sugar produced when you digest carbohydrates. Glucose is sometimes referred to as dextrose.

Then you have sugars that are dissacarides (2 sugar molecules)
Lactose: The natural sugar found in milk, it is composed of one galactose unit and one glucose unit; sometimes called milk sugar.
Maltose: A disaccharide composed of two glucose units. It is found in molasses and is also used for fermentation.
Sucrose (Table Sugar): Composed of one glucose unit and one fructose unit bonded together.


Maybe you're thinking of food combinations.
If you eat an apple versus eating a lollipop, I believe the apple will effect the blood sugar less then the lollipop. But that's due to the other items in the apple, complex carbs, a little protien... etc.
Basically, it comes down to processing... A quick general rule of thumb is "The higher the processing, the higher the impact on blood sugar." but that too is not 100% true since there are fruits that can effect you just as quickly. Grapes come to mind..

Answer 2

Fructose and Glucose are simple sugars. Lots of bad foods use things like high fructose corn syrup to sweeten because it is cheap. So, always best to avoid these. But one can partake occassionally.

Sucrose (sugar) is a polysaccharide, which is a number of simple molecules joined by a glycosidic bond. In high quantities, even a polysaccharide like table sugar is bad for you as it still raises blood sugar levels and has empty calories.

Some nutritionists have been encouraging that people eat more low glycemic foods, or those that will not raise the blood sugar level dramatically - leafy green veg, broccoli, cucumbers, etc., which is always a good thing to do, especially when they are high in nutrients.

However, not all carbs are bad. Foods that are high in fiber are very important to the diet. So whole grain breads, oatmeal, and really any multi-grain foods are good for you. But again, everything in moderation.

Answer 3

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate whether it is in honey, cane juice, apples, beets or any other food. It is a white crystaline powder - period. Its glycemic index is always the same regardless of its source. Table sugar is a natural sugar. When we say sugar is "refined" it means simply that it has been separated from its source. It has not been chemically changed or altered in any manner. When we say "sugar" we usually mean "sucrose". Sucrose is a double molecule. It is composed of 2 other molecules - 1 molecule of fructose and 1 molecule of glucose, and can be easily separated into its constituent molecules by our body or in manufacturing processes. There is no chemical altering of the molecules during the process. There are many other types of sugar however - lactose, maltose, dextrose are a just few of them. The glucose molecule is the only one that our body uses immediately. It is what is given to medical patients via IVs. All other sugar needs to be altered by our body's systems before use. But they are all simple carbohydrates - period. Both the glycemic index and the glycemic load are high for simple carbohyrates.

When it comes to complex carbohydrates you have a whole new ballgame. Some complex carbohydrates, such as white potatoes, are so easily digested by our body's systems that they can be thought of as simple carbohydrates. You need to get more information on the glycemic "index" and the glycemic "load" of all carbohydrates - simple and complex - and other foods as well. In simple terms, the glycemic "index" is sorta' like a lab analysis of the food. The glycemic "load" is an evaluation of how our body responds to the food. Glycemic load is what we should be most concerned with.

Be wary as you research. There is a lot of good info on the web, but, conversely, there is a lot of bad info too. Look at the source of the info/data. Dot edu and dot gov sites are reliable, but sites that are trying to sell you something are notorious for spewing forth misleading info/data. Corroborate ALL info/data.

Answer 4

No.

The only people who have to worry about blood sugar swings are diabetics, and those w/ insulin resistance. For the rest of us, our body is perfectly designed to control blood sugars countless times a day.

Fruit sugars are not complex, they are simple carbohydrates.

Complex carbs do not taste sweet when eaten. Simple carbs do.

Sugars are an easy way to consume excess calories and often accompany little nutrition. So take it easy on them. Otherwise, dont' sweat it too badly.

Answer 5

no i think natural sugars r better and there good for ur body
normal sugar has another name its called "refined sugar"
that sugar is bad for u if u take consume alot of it

Answer 6

you should avoid bad carbs in refined foods & such, and you shouldn't eat alot of fruit, you are right, because of the sugar. granted, it's NATURAL sugar, but it's still sugar, and it's proven fact that those who eat a lot of fruit weigh more than those who don't.

Answer 7

Yes cos it is the same as normal sugar!

Answer 8

Dave C is correct 100 percent, I can't add anything to what he said.