The Journey Of Sugar Into Our Diet

Dr Geeta Dharmatti discusses the journey of sugar into our diet and how one should approach it in the modern times

- Dr Geeta Dharmatti

Sugar: an introduction Sugars are caloric, sweet-tasting compounds that are present in natural and cooked foods. Sugar is a part of the family of carbohydrates, formed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - which are used by the body to give energy. India has had a long tradition of sugar intake. Sugar has been a vital part of the Indian diet since ancient times. In the Mahabharata, written in 350 BC, sugar finds a reference.

Sugarcane cultivation and preparation finds mention in the Atharva Veda. And in traditional Indian culture, sugar and sweetened foods are part of most festivals and social occasions. While intake of sugar does give energy, high levels of a basic structural unit of sugar, called glucose, in the blood, is called Diabetes. Uncontrolled, high blood glucose is associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, foot infections, high cholesterol, kidney failure and vision problems.

Understanding the influence of sugar

The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends 5-10 per cent of total calories should come from sugar. For a person with a normal BMI (normal weight), this comes to 6-8 teaspoons of sugar. However, currently, consumption often exceeds this limit. Some sugars are naturally present in foods and at other times sugars are added to foods. Natural sugars are present in fruits and vegetables. Dairy and whole grains have more complex natural sugars, and these complex sugars are released slowly in the blood. Added sugars, unlike naturally present sugars, include processed sugar, white granules or honey and are added to foods. These added sugars are found in packaged foods, bars, candy and cookies.

Added sugars impact our body by adding glucose to the bloodstream quickly after food is consumed. These hidden sugars provide taste and increase the desire to eat more quantity.