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Sucrose is a chemical compound that is an essential component of practically everyday food sugar. Sucrose is present in most products, so additional sweetening of food causes an excess of this compound in the body. What are the properties of sucrose and is it harmful to the body?
What is sucrose?
Sucrose is an organic chemical compound belonging to the carbohydrate group of disaccharides. Sucrose is a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose linked together by a glycosidic bond. It is the main ingredient of food sugar, and due to the way it is obtained, it was called beet or cane sugar. On the packaging of products that we buy every day in stores, sucrose is marked as simple sugar along with other compounds that are included in this group. The history of sucrose dates back to antiquity, because it was obtained from sugar cane in the Middle East. On the other hand, the first successful attempt to obtain sucrose from beet took place in 1747. The first sugar factory was built in 1802 in Konary in Lower Silesia.
Properties of sucrose
We know sucrose as white crystals that dissolve easily in water. 100 g of sugar obtained from sugar beet contains 99,8 g of pure sucrose. Sucrose does not provide the body with any nutritional value, it is only a source of energy for the body. One teaspoon of sugar provides 20 kcal, one tablespoon provides 40 kcal. Therefore, sweetening food or drinks only provides the body with empty calories. One teaspoon of sugar in tea causes the weight to increase by up to one kilogram within 6 months.
Sucrose – sugar sources
Sucrose is usually obtained from sugar beet and sugar cane. These plants contain the most of this compound. Fruit is sweetened not by sucrose, but by fructose, so eating them does not result in a rapid increase in kilograms. However, some fruits contain a bit more sucrose, so you should watch out for dates, mangoes, pineapples, apricots, mandarins, nectarines, peaches and melons in your diet. Sucrose is a compound that is largely used in the food industry, so ready-made products bought in stores provide us with simple sugars in excessive amounts. Sucrose is found in such products as: breakfast cereals, fruit yoghurts, sweetened dried fruit, jams, preserves, plum jam, baked goods, candies and chocolate products. The multitude of products rich in sucrose should reduce the additional sweetening of other foods or drinks.
Is sucrose harmful?
Sucrose is a compound that humans do not need to function properly. A sufficient amount of sugar supplied to the body is found in fresh fruit, which should be an important part of any diet. The digestion process of sucrose takes place in the oral cavity, which is why the blood glucose level rises so quickly after its consumption. Eating sucrose in excess is harmful to your health, so you should monitor the amount of sugar you eat every day. Excessive sucrose in the diet can cause: obesity and overweight, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, tooth decay, osteoporosis, disturbed intestinal microflora, skin aging, chronic inflammation and mood swings.