Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
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Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar
What is it:
Brown sugar is a type of sugar that has a distinct caramel-like flavor and a slightly moist texture. It is made by combining white sugar with molasses, which is a byproduct of the sugar refining process. The amount of molasses added to the white sugar determines the darkness and flavor intensity of the brown sugar, creating light or dark brown sugar. Brown sugar is commonly used in baking, cooking, and as a sweetener in various recipes, providing a rich and earthy flavor to dishes.
Rating:
While molasses is rich in nutrients and minerals, brown sugar is made with processed white sugar, which is pure sucrose that has been separated from the fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients that make up sugar cane or sugar beets in their whole form. Consuming high amounts of sugar in any form has been linked to many adverse health effects such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Additionally, sugarcane production is a very water-intensive crop that also has resulted in deforestation and loss of biodiversity in many regions of the world, requires the significant use of fossil fuels, and contributes to pollution. The use of harmful herbicides like glyphosate may be used during sugarcane production as a ripener.
Resources:
- White and brown sugar consumption effect on metabolic parameters in rats (animal study)
- Sugar consumption impact on metabolic health and association with chronic disease
- Therapeutic potential of molasses (review)
- The environmental impact of cane sugar production
- WWF overview of sugarcane production on the environment
- Herbicides as sugarcane ripeners
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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