The Science of Sweetness

Reducing your sugar intake seems simple, but there are several factors at play that can make it difficult to cut back. From the multitude of names for sugar-based ingredients to recent trends insisting only natural sugars are okay to eat. Not to mention, our bodies sometimes seem to crave sugar when in fact they’re low on minerals, or simply need more sleep. It’s hard to know what you should or shouldn’t consume.

Not all sugars are the same

Sugar is used in many ways consumers don’t expect. Its obvious use is as a sweetener, but it's also used as a bulking agent, as a preservative, to add or improve food texture or to add viscosity or thickness to drinks and semi-liquid foods. Because of this, reducing sugar in your diet isn’t as straightforward as it seems. It’s helpful to understand that sugar can be broken down into three categories: natural sugar, artificial sugar and sugar alcohols.

Natural sugars occur naturally in foods and are not added in by the manufacturer. Examples include fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Whole fruits may have high amounts of sugar, but also vitamins, minerals and fiber which are all part of a healthy diet.

Artificial sugars can be defined as nutritive or non-nutritive. Nutritive sweeteners have calories associated with them, like honey or high-fructose corn syrup. Non-nutritive sweeteners are either calorie free or very low calorie, including aspartame, stevia and sucralose.

Sugar alcohols are neither sugar nor alcohol, but are instead a form of carbohydrate that has a chemical structure similar to sugar. Those can also be found in many sugar free products, and common names for them include xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol and maltitol.

Don’t be fooled by marketing

While current trends would have us believe artificial sweeteners are bad, that’s not necessarily true.

Helen Nichols, Registered Dietitian at  Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Clinic, says, “I don't like to label foods as good or bad; that can create a negative relationship with food, and oftentimes restricting our diet makes us want that item even more. Right now, most artificial sweeteners have GRAS certification from the FDA, which means they are generally recognized as safe.”

Before you reach for a sports drink or sugar-free soda, know these are marketed as a better choice, but often aren’t actually a healthier option. These drinks have less added sugar but don’t provide nutritional benefits, which means you’re filling up on empty calories. Our bodies also tend to be less satiated by liquids, so it’s easy to overconsume.

“In some cases, I have had patients drinking over 1,000 calories per day from soda and other sugar sweetened beverages without even realizing it,” Helen says. A great way to prevent drinking more sugary beverages than you should is to make sure you’re getting enough water. Staying hydrated can reduce cravings for sodas while also supporting your body’s functions.

The daily recommended water intake for adults is half of your body weight in ounces of water. For example, a 200 pound person would need 100 ounces of water a day.

Reduce, don’t eliminate

Reducing sugar intake is easier when you know what to look for. Ingredients ending in “ose,” such as maltose or sucrose; natural sugars such as honey or raw sugar; additives like high fructose corn syrup or fruit juice concentrates are all types of added sugar.

Donna Riley, RD, is a Diabetes Educator at Monument Health’s Rapid City Clinic. She says, “Long ingredient lists often mean more processing, with added vitamins and minerals instead of the level as it came from nature.”

While this seems like a good thing, fiber isn’t required to be added back in afterwards, and is often replaced with other non-nutritive or unsatiating ingredients.

To help consumers make more informed decisions about their sugar intake, the FDA recently adjusted food labels to highlight added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends the average adult male eats only 36 grams of added sugar per day and adult women only 25 grams.

If you have questions about your diet and your health, Donna recommends seeing a dietitian or diabetes educator about your specific situation. “Despite information on the internet or from family and friends, it does not take into account an individual’s personal situation or personal medical history. The internet often has too much information and it is hard to know how to apply it.”

Three Registered Dietitians, Kayla Wede, Helen Nichols and Mason Wellskopf, from Monument Health share their favorite smoothie recipes. From increasing energy to cutting sugar cravings, they’re a great way to boost your day without sacrificing a healthy diet.