- Sugar is a general term for sweet, soluble carbohydrates that occur naturally in plants and serve as a source of energy. The most common type of sugar is sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, which is widely used as a sweetener in food and beverages.
How is it Made?
Sugar is typically extracted from sugarcane or sugar beets through the following steps:
- Harvesting: Sugarcane or sugar beets are harvested and cleaned.
- Extraction: The juice is extracted by crushing or shredding the raw material.
- Purification: The juice is boiled and treated to remove impurities.
- Crystallization: The concentrated juice is cooled to form sugar crystals.
- Drying and Refining: Crystals are dried and refined to produce white or raw sugar.
Uses
Food Production
- Sweetener: Used to enhance flavor in baked goods, candies, beverages, and desserts.
- Preservative: Helps preserve jams, jellies, and other foods by inhibiting microbial growth.
- Texture and Color: Provides texture in confections and contributes to browning in baked goods through caramelization.
Pharmaceuticals
- Used as a base or coating in tablets and syrups for flavor and palatability.
- Acts as a stabilizer in certain drug formulations.
Cosmetics
- Found in exfoliating scrubs for its granular texture.
- Used as a humectant to help retain moisture in skincare products.
Key Facts
- Sugars are categorized into monosaccharides (glucose, fructose) and disaccharides (sucrose, lactose).
- Sugar is naturally present in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and is added to processed foods for flavor and preservation.
Health Benefits and Safety
- Potential Health Benefits:
Sugar provides a quick source of energy and is essential for certain metabolic functions. - Possible Side Effects:
Excessive sugar consumption is associated with health risks such as weight gain, tooth decay, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.