Our body doesn't really discriminate between natural sugar and added sugar. That is, there’s not really a difference in how the body processes or metabolizes natural vs artificial sugars. But despite this, natural fruit sugars are still advocated as the healthier option vs added sugars. Why? Let’s find out in this article.
Understanding Natural Sugar vs Added Sugar
While it’s true that our body metabolizes natural sugar and adds sugar in the same way, there are still differences between the two, which make natural sugar healthier than added sugar.
Natural Sugars
Natural sugars are those that are inherently present in whole, unprocessed foods, imparting the natural sweetness of such foods. For example, an apple tastes sweet because of its fructose content, while plain milk has some hints of sweetness because of its lactose content.
For most people, consuming foods with natural sugars doesn’t pose a negative impact on their health. This is because of its overall nutritional profile and portion control.
Specifically, natural sugars in whole foods can come with a wide variety of other healthy add-ons, like fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Such add-ons can help regulate the rise in blood sugar levels, allowing for a more sustained energy level and prolonged satiation.
Natural sugars are also present only in modest amounts in whole foods, so ensuring that you won’t go beyond the recommended intake level for sugars.
Added Sugars
In contrast, added sugars, which are usually dubbed as bad sugars and are those that are introduced after processing or preparation of foods, only provide “empty calories” because of their lack of nutritional value.
Unlike natural sugars, added sugars provide little to no fiber, vitamin, or mineral content. Because of this, there are no buffers that can slow down the absorption of these sugars. This makes added sugars easily added into the bloodstream, immediately leading to energy spikes or the immediate increase in blood sugar levels. Such spikes also later on turn into energy crashes.
The rapid absorption of added sugars in the bloodstream also increases the risk of insulin resistance, weight gain, inflammation. Ultimately, over time, consumption of added sugars, especially beyond the recommended intake, also poses an increased risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
It’s also important to note that added sugars come in many forms. When you look into a food’s ingredient list, you’ll come across several terms used to refer to added sugars, including brown sugar, fruit juice concentrates, molasses, corn sweetener, and corn syrup, among others.
All of these are added sugars, and none can be considered better than others. It still boils down to moderation in the consumption of sugar, guided by nutritional recommendations by nutrition experts.
Sovány Sparkling Water is a Healthy Food Swap!
Healthy food swaps involve actively choosing healthier options in your daily food choices. One good example of food swaps is the act of giving up on drinks packed with lots of added sugar, like sodas, sweetened fruit juices, many sweet teas, and energy drinks.
These sugary beverages are often a major source of hidden added sugars in our diets, and they’re often consumed in surplus because they don’t provide much satiety.
This is where the Sovány Sparkling Water comes in. Our organic sparkling water uses real fruits as flavoring, allowing you to enjoy flavored drinks without the guilt of sugar and caloric surplus. Specific benefits of choosing our sparkling flavored water over sugary beverages include:
- Zero Added Sugar: The most obvious benefit—it's a direct, delicious replacement for sugary options without adding any sugar to your diet.
- Excellent Hydration: Staying hydrated is crucial for overall health, and our organic sparkling water helps you meet your daily fluid needs.
- Natural Flavor Variety: You don't have to sacrifice flavor! The Sovány Sparkling Water is made up of real fruit juice and comes in 3 fruity flavors you can choose from—green apple, tangerine, and raspberry.
- Satisfying Fizz: For those who enjoy the effervescence of soda, sparkling water offers that satisfying bubbly experience without the sugar crash.
Make Healthier Choices With Sovány
Understanding the differences in natural vs added sugars is a great starting point towards making healthier choices and improving one’s overall well-being.
With better knowledge on their difference, consumers can also conscientiously prioritize whole foods and choose natural options like Sovány Sparkling Water that allows them to enjoy flavorful drinks without the guilt.
Browse our shop today to check out our wide selection of fruity sparkling water that you can choose from!