Interesting Facts About Sugar

Sugar always tends to have a vital role in the life of the majority of people except a few who have avoided sugar from their life due to a variety of reasons. Here, we will discuss some interesting facts about sugar that everyone will find interesting to read.

Interesting Facts About Sugar

Introduction – The introduction of sugar in England dates back to the twelfth century in England. But, the more interesting fact is that it was known as a spice similar to ginger, saffron, etc. In the later stages, sugar came under the sweetener category.

Sugar as the medicine – Today, the increased sugar level in the blood is a cause of a variety of diseases which we generally call diabetes. It would be amusing to know that sugar was considered a medicine in ancient times. It was incorporated in the preparation of syrups and infusions that was used for various kinds of treatments.

Sugary as a luxury good – During its initial time, sugar was a luxury good. It was so expensive that only the royal families could afford it.

Sugar as the staple diet – Although sugar was considered a luxury good during its introductory period, it was later in the mid-half of the nineteenth century that sugar became a part of the life of ordinary people. Its price went down during the 1850s such that everyone could afford it.

Sugar as a preservative – Sugar can be used as a preservative too. This prevents the food item from depleting. Putting the object to be preserved in sugar or sugar syrup causes the water in it to be lost through osmosis. This produces a situation that is impossible for bacteria to live in.

Classification of sugar – Sugar is a generic name for a sweet carbohydrate. It can generally be divided into monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are the simplest sugar molecules. Two monosaccharides join to form a disaccharide, and a lot of monosaccharides join together to form a monosaccharide chain called a polysaccharide.

Sugar in plants – Although all the plants have sugar content in them, sugar is extracted commercially, mainly from two plants: sugarcane and sugar beet. Among the two, sugar cane is the primary producer of sugar worldwide. Sugar cane contributes to almost three-quarters of the total sugar production worldwide.

Sugar addiction – Sugar is a substance that produces addiction. So, if we try to stop sugar consumption within a day or two, it may produce withdrawal symptoms.

Sugar-creating wrinkles – We all may be aware of the fact that excess consumption of sugar leads to weight gain and fat deposits under our skin layer. But, overconsumption of sugar has another harmful effect, creating wrinkles on the skin. When we take in excess sugar, the blood sugar level increases, which facilitates glycation. Through glycation, the excess sugar binds with a component in the skin called collagen, which builds up wrinkles in the skin.

Sugar and carbohydrates – Sugar is a carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen component. Glucose is one of the simplest forms among it. Thus, sugar is the building block of carbohydrates in living organisms.

Table sugar – The sugar we use as a sweetener is sucrose. Sucrose is a disaccharide of two distinct monosaccharides, glucose and fructose.

The fruit sugar – The fruit sugar is attributed to fructose. It is because fructose is the sugar that is commonly found in fruits.

The healing properties of sugar – The property that makes it an effective preservative is also used for healing purposes. When applied to wounds, sugar absorbs the moisture content, which will prevent bacteria growth. In short, sugar, when applied to wounds, can help in the healing of the same.

Lugduname – Of all the sweetening agents, lugduname is the sweetest of all. Compared to table sugar, it is almost 2, 00,000 times sweeter, whereas it is 3 00,000 times sweeter compared to sucrose.

Saccharin and Aspartame – Saccharin and aspartame are artificially produced sweeteners. But, the exciting fact is that both of them were accidental inventions where they just tested the compound by putting it in their mouth.

Lemon and strawberry – Unlike strawberries, lemon has more sugar content, but most of us may find it difficult to believe this. The presence of citric acid masks the sweetness of lemon and similar citrus fruits.

The word sugar – The word sugar is derived from the Sanskrit language. The Sanskrit term ‘sharkara,’ which means ‘material in granule form,’ gives rise to the term sugar.

Sugar and heart health – Excess sugar consumption is known to have a depleting effect on the functioning of the heart. It alters the heart muscle protein structure and affects the pumping mechanisms.

Invention of sucralose – Similar to the invention of saccharine and aspartame, sucralose is also accidental. During the studies conducted to produce an insecticide, sucralose was invented.

Producer and consumer – The largest producer of sugar in the world is Brazil, as they are the highest sugarcane producer in the world. On the other hand, the largest consumer of sugar in India.

History of sugar – According to archaeological evidence, it is known that Indians were the first persons to crystallize the sugar. During the Gupta dynasty, that is around 350 AD, the first crystal forms of sugar were invented. Various literary evidence from that era showed the presence of crystallized sugar in the ancient period itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is it advised to consume less amount of sugar?

Increased sugar consumption is known to cause several health issues like diabetes, arthritis, etc. It is also known to alter the functioning of the heart and can affect the liver too. To avoid such harmful effects, it is advised to reduce the consumption of sugar. Excess consumption of sugar is also known to reduce the recovery rate of breast and colon cancer.

What is the chemical structure of sugar?

Sugar is made from three components – carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The most straightforward sugars are monosaccharides, single molecule sugar, and glucose is one example. Disaccharides are produced from two monosaccharides. Sucrose is a disaccharide made of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose each. A polysaccharide is a chain constituted by several monosaccharides. Starch, cellulose, etc., are all examples of polysaccharides.

How does sugar shows preservative properties?

The osmotic property of sugar is used to convert it as a preservative. When used as a preservative, it removes the excess water, thereby creating an unfavorable environment for the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms.

How is sugar responsible for creating wrinkles in the skin?

Excess sugar in the body causes sugar to build up in a collagen component of the skin. This build-up is responsible for causing wrinkles in the skin. Reducing the usage of sugar can effectively reduce such wrinkles.

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