Sugar is referred to as sucrose or an edible crystalline carbohydrate which includes sucrose, lactose and fructose. Sucrose is broken down to glucose and fructose.

The glucose is used in our bodies for energy. Every cell, as well as bacterium, in our body needs glucose to function properly.

Fructose or simple sugar is what gives us the sweetness in foods. In fruits and vegetables, it binds with the glucose. It seems to help the body process the glucose properly. Thus, the sugar in fruits and vegetables is helpful to our bodies. The fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and beneficial phytonutrients help moderate any negative metabolic effects of the sugars.

MODERATION and what type of sugar you consume is the key. Glucose is metabolized in every cell. However, fructose is metabolized in the liver, just like alcohol. Too much fructose will over burden the liver. In turn, it affects our blood sugar levels,  insulin production and turns the excess fructose into fat. Sugars that have been processed do not have the fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and beneficial phytonutirents to help moderate any negative metabolic effects. Processed sugars weaken our immune system.

Beware of the labels “Natural”. All sugars are not created equally. Sugar cane and beet sugar are the least processed. However, beet  sugar is usually genetically modified.  Stevia is from a rebiana extract, a part of the stevia plant. Rebiana is rebaudiaoside A which is made in a lab. Thus, it is refined and labeled by the FDA as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). It is sweeter than cane sugar so you don’t need as much. Truvia and Purevia, two new ‘natural’ sugars on the market, use bulk ingredients, including erythritol, a sugar alcohol and ‘natural flavors’.  Erythriol is produced from glucose by fermentation with yeast and is only partially digested.  ‘Natural flavors’  are natural or synthetic chemicals.    http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/4676616/ns/today-food/t/food-qa-just-what-natural-flavoring/#.TqVvBHLiHDf   Consumption of over 50g can cause nausea, growling or rumbling in the intestines.  Xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols which do not get digested. They are excreted in the urine and feces. For those who have digestive issues, these sugars can cause diarrhea.  Artificial sweeteners such as  Splenda is processed to create chlorine atoms. Another artificial sweetener is Aspertame. It is very controversial.  Some people have ill affects including muscle weakness. And the number one processed sugar that is in 80 to 90% of our foods is High Fructose Corn Syrup (corn sugar). It is made from corn. Though it has ALMOST the same ratio of glucose and fructose as sucrose, it is man made!

Bottom line is that any processed or refined sugar can have side effects but more importantly is devoid of any nutritional value.  http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/carbs/1082/  People are consuming fructose in enormous quantities and our liver can not metabolize it quickly enough.

I suggest that you take a day to keep track of everything you put in your mouth. List any food that has any kind of sugar in it. Then circle the raw fruits and vegetables because they have the nutrients to help metabolize the sugars.  If the packages have the amount of sugar listed, you can add them up. I have not found just how much sugar we need a day. It seems to range from 1 teaspoon to 3 Tablespoons.  One 12 oz. can of soda has sugar equivalent to 10 teaspoons!

This gives you a picture of just what we are doing to our bodies  and especially our livers.  Once you have an imbalance in one organ or area, it affects all the systems in the body. It is time for us to take responsibility for our own health. Read more about sugar at http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.