Every single health-conscious person out there is interested in how to reduce the intake of sugar. This is completely normal since buying items at the grocery store these days can be quite “dangerous”. We say this as many products include added sugar. It is important to allow sugar but is all sugar the same? Will all sugar hurt your diet and even your skin? This is a question that stirs a lot of debate.
Is brown sugar a better option than white sugar?
We see many that say exactly this. Because of all the negative publicity surrounding white sugar, many moved towards brown sugar. When we compare the two, on paper it does seem to be a really good move since brown sugar looks better. However, is brown sugar actually better? Here are some things that you need to know.
What Is The Difference Between White And Brown Sugar?
Calorie-wise and nutritionally, brown sugar and white sugar are quite similar. The real difference appears when looking at flavor, color and how the sugar is created. Brown sugar is practically white sugar with added molasses. It is seen as being mostly raw sugar since less chemical processing is in place as compared with the regular white sugar.
As white sugar crystals are mixed with molasses, the result is a lumpy, soft brown sugar. You can easily swap brown and white sugars in recipes and get around the same nutritional values and calories.
What Does Less Processing Mean For Brown Sugar?
White sugar is practically a pure carbohydrate. It does add body fat and can cause other problems. Brown sugar, as already mentioned, is white sugar plus molasses. This practically means that brown sugar is a little more liquid and calorie count is around 0.25 calories lower per gram when compared with white sugar. The sweetness is less concentrated and there are just a little more minerals present than with white sugar.
Basically, brown sugar is made out of 95% sucrose and 5% molasses, which is responsible for the extra moistness and flavor. However, molasses does not really have extra nutritional benefits, as many think right now.
Simply put, brown sugar does have the exact same health risks as white sugar. It is not a good idea for those that want to lose weight or for people that suffer from diabetes.
Conclusions
The most important thing to remember is that you should not fall for any gimmicks. It is true that there is a difference between white and brown sugar as they go through some different processes, the differences are not as important as some believe. There is no one option that is healthier than the other. We are still looking at sugar and you having to be careful about your intake.
You can add brown sugar to the recipe, which does create a slightly different taste you might like. It is possible that the recipe demands for brown sugar in some desserts. However, using it does not mean the result is healthier.
What has to be remembered is that moderation is always the key in diet. There is no harm when you consume either brown sugar or white sugar as long as it is in lower quantities. Make sure that you take a close look at the foods you buy for extra added sugars and you should be ok.