What You MUST Know About ‘Natural’ Sugar

Today, I’m going to rant a little bit. There is something I am seeing in our ‘health’ culture that is really getting to me, and it needs to be addressed. Now, this is coming from someone who has researched and studied diabetes nearly all my life. However, I believe these feelings are valid regardless of the fact that someone has diabetes or not.

So, what’s the issue?

The issue is all the talk of ‘natural sugar’ out there. And I’m not referring to fruit. I’m referring to things like agave, honey, maple syrup, and so on.

I’m a big recipe nut so I’m always online searching for recipes. I love trying new foods, and I am determined not to let any dietary restrictions get in the way of enjoying each and every meal I eat.

So far, I have been very successful with this and have included quite a great variety of foods in my daily diet.

This being said, I often come across a recipe that’s labeled ‘no added sugar’ or ‘sugar free’ or something of that nature, only to click on it and find out that the recipe calls for, say, one cup of coconut sugar.

Sugar free?!?

I just don’t get it. How is that sugar free? Is coconut sugar not sugar?

Sure, it comes from a healthy source – coconuts –but it is still SUGAR.

As a society, we are getting so caught up in this notion of natural eating that we are sometimes letting our common sense go by the wayside.

I see this most when looking at paleo-based recipes, surprisingly enough. Not to knock paleo. I think it’s one of the best approaches out there, but there are too many paleo recipes that call for things like honey or coconut sugar and still label it sugar free.

I don’t believe it is. Even if that sugar is coming from natural origins, it’s still having an effect on the body that is very similar to eating regular sugar, and it’s just as concentrated.

Now, if you are adding fruit, that’s a different story. Fruit also comes complete with dietary fiber, which will help to slow down the release of the sugar in the body. That can be a great thing. Plus, it’s packaged with so many different nutrients that it makes it worthwhile to have in your diet plan.

On top of that, you have to eat a LOT of fruit to amass any sort of high sugar intake. Most people simply won’t eat more than one piece at a time, which will only give you 10-20 grams of sugar at most.

So, the moral of the story here?

Reader beware. Don’t fall for the trap of thinking that all this talk of ‘natural sugar’ is what it seems. It isn’t going to do you much better than just having plain sugar, so keep in mind that you aren’t at any huge advantage here. Sugar is sugar. Let’s not ‘sugarcoat it’ (pun intended).

Be smart. Be safe. Know what you’re putting into your body.