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It is well known that white sugar is not a healthy product and that is why we often try to find its replacement. We can buy in many stores brown and cane sugar. How do they differ? Are they healthier than white sugar? How many calories does a teaspoon of brown sugar have?

What is sugar?

Sugar is a product obtained from sugar beet or sugar cane. It is characterized by a high content of simple carbohydrates (almost 100%). Thanks to its easily soluble form, we use it to sweeten drinks, desserts and other dishes.

Although it used to be widely believed that sugar is fortifying and necessary to be healthy, today it is known that this is not true. Excessive consumption of sugar causes the development of overweight, obesity and many diseases, including type 2 diabetes. For this reason, we are increasingly looking for products that could replace traditional sugar in order to enjoy the sweet taste without harming our health.

Cane sugar - characteristics

Cane sugar can be found in a refined version, i.e. purified and unrefined. Refined cane sugar can be compared to white beet sugar. On the other hand, unrefined cane sugar has a slightly brown color and a characteristic aroma, which results from the presence of molasses. The lack of sugar purification means that in addition to carbohydrates, it also contains minerals such as: potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper. This allows it to be absorbed a little slower than regular white sugar. However, the content of these ingredients is not very high. For this reason, cane sugar cannot be considered a healthy product, but only slightly less unhealthy than refined sugar.

Brown sugar - characteristics

What are the differences between brown and cane sugar? Despite the similar color, these sugars are not the same product. Brown sugar is actually white, refined sugar that has been colored by adding molasses or caramel to it. In addition, brown sugar often also comes from another raw material. However, when it comes to their impact on health, the differences between these products are small.

Why is cane sugar so popular?

Although it does not support our health, cane sugar is often referred to as a better version of sugar and a luxury product. Its price is definitely higher than the price of white beet sugar. Therefore, if we want to buy it, it is worth paying attention to whether we are actually buying cane sugar or just sugar that has been colored. For this purpose, you should read the product label and not be guided only by the color and higher price.

Sugar calories

The energy value of different types of sugar is not very diverse. Both white sugar, unrefined cane sugar and brown sugar contain about 390-400 kcal per 100 g of the product.

How many calories does a teaspoon of brown sugar have? By sweetening tea or coffee with one level teaspoon of sugar, we provide ourselves with 20 kcal. It seems not much, but if we drink several cups of sweetened tea during the day, the amount of calories consumed in this way increases and can even match the caloric content of a small meal.

Sugar consumption and a healthy diet

Due to the health consequences of consuming sugar, it is necessary to limit it in the diet. According to general recommendations, the consumption of simple sugars by a healthy adult should not exceed 10% of the energy value of the diet. This means that a person consuming 2000 kcal a day could consume up to 50 g of sugar a day. However, it should be remembered that sugar is not only found in a sugar bowl. It is contained in sweets, fruit yoghurts, breakfast cereals, muesli and even some savory products such as ketchup, ready-made sauces and soups. In addition, simple sugars also occur naturally in products, such as fruit.

Sugar should be treated more as an occasional addition than a permanent element of the diet used several times a day. The implementation of healthy habits allows you to reduce the desire for sweets and sweetening meals. If you have difficulty in limiting sugar in your diet, it is worth asking for specialist help, which can be obtained during health stays at the Sofra Health Institute.