Collection: Products without added sugar

Eating products without added sugar can be healthy for us for many reasons, such as maintaining a healthy weight, preventing diabetes, improving dental health, and increasing energy. But not all products that advertise themselves as "no added sugar" are truly sugar-free or diet-friendly. It's important to know how to read the ingredients and nutritional values ​​of the products we buy, and to distinguish between natural and artificial sugars.

In this article, I will explain what the different sugars are, how they affect the body, and how to choose products with no added sugar that suit your needs and goals. I will also present some examples of products that may mislead you into thinking they are healthy, but actually contain a lot of sugar or calories. At the end of the article, I will give you some tips and recommendations for eating healthy and balanced products with no added sugar.

What are the different sugars?

Sugar is the common name for a group of chemical substances called carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of fuel, and they appear in a wide variety of foods and beverages. Carbohydrates are divided into two main types: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates are sugars that are made up of one or two units of glucose, fructose, or galactose. They are also called simple sugars or low-molecular sugars. They occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, milk, and honey, but are also added to processed products such as cakes, chocolate, sweets, carbonated drinks, and more. They are quickly absorbed by the body and raise blood sugar levels, which causes the secretion of the hormone insulin, which helps transport sugar into the cells. The advantage of simple carbohydrates is that they provide immediate energy to the body, but their disadvantage is that they cause a feeling of hunger more quickly, obesity, diabetes, and other health risks.

Complex carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are sugars that are made up of three or more glucose units. They are also called complex sugars or high-molecular sugars. They occur naturally in grains, rice, potatoes, lentils, beans, and more, but are also added to processed products such as bread, pita bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, and more. They are absorbed more slowly in the body and raise blood sugar levels moderately, which causes the secretion of the hormone insulin at a more stable rate. An advantage of complex carbohydrates is that they provide energy over time to the body, but their disadvantage is that they can be high in calories or contain preservatives or other additives.

How to choose products with no added sugar? Choosing products with no added sugar is not as simple as it sounds, because there is a difference between products that contain no sugar at all and products that do not contain white sugar or added sugar. To choose correctly, you must refer to the total amount of sugar in the product, and not just the marketing title. You must also pay attention to the type of sugar the product contains, whether it is natural or artificial, and whether it is a simple or complex carbohydrate.