What is Sucrose?
Sucrose
or table sugar is what we have been using for years to sweeten our foods. It is
used as a sweetener in candies, chocolates, and desserts. Sucrose is a
carbohydrate. All carbohydrates contain three main elements of Carbon,
Hydrogen, and Oxygen. The molecular formula of sucrose is C12H22O11.
Sucrose is a disaccharide carbohydrate. It means it is composed of two smaller
hydrocarbon molecules (monosaccharide). The two monosaccharides that form
sucrose are Fructose and Glucose.
Where does it come from?
The
sugar we use every day comes from two main sources: sugarcanes and sugar beets.
In fact, first sugarcanes are washed and chopped up into small pieces. Then, they
are immersed into hot water to leach their sweet syrup. Then, after filtration
of this dark syrup, it is crystallized to form pure, white crystals that we use
as a sweetener.
What are
some of the Benefits of Sugar?
Other
than using sugar as a sweetener, it has many other benefits. For instance, the
alcohol (ethanol) produced from fermentation of sucrose can be used in
alcoholic beverage industry. Sucrose can also be used as a flavor,
preservative, and as coating for tablets.
Now, is
Sugar Good to Eat?
Yes.
Although sugar is neither a toxic nor a hazardous compound, intake of too much
sugar can cause health issues. For instance, there are some bacteria living in
mouth that convert sugar into alcohol (ethanol) and acid. The process through
which sucrose is converted into alcohol is called fermentation. This acid can
damage the enamel of the teeth and cause dental caries. In addition, eating more
than 500g/day may cause heart diseases and obesity. Also, overexposure to sugar
can cause skin, eyes, and respiratory diseases. Due to these health issues, some
scientists have suggested different substitutes for sugar such as sucralose (low
calorie), Xylitol (sugar alcohol), and many other artificial sweeteners. Now,
the question is, are these substitutes healthy or they may create new health
issues?
No comments:
Post a Comment