Sugar Breakdown

Understanding the difference in sugars and the way sugar is processed in the body may be confusing.  All sugars are used as a source of fuel, but there are subtle differences in the way they are digested and absorbed.  Having the knowledge and understanding that everything we consume is broken down into sugars can help you understand the causes of diabetes and other health hazards.  You know that type 2 diabetes is linked to high blood sugar.  While sugar is not enough to cause diabetes alone, a healthy well-balanced diet along with reducing certain sugars could help reduce the risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.

Sugar is processed in the body in different categories depending on what you consume.

• Glucose is the body’s main source of energy and is found in fruit such as pasta, whole grain bread, legumes, and a range of vegetables.
•  Fructose is a ‘fruit sugar’ found in foods such as fruit, honey, some vegetables, and soft drinks
• Lactose is referred to as ‘milk sugar’. Lactose is found primarily in dairy products but is often added to bread and baked goods, lollies, cereals, and processed snacks.
• Maltose is referred to as ‘malt sugar’ and consists of two glucose molecules. Maltose is founded in cereals containing barley and ‘malt products’ such as malted milkshakes, lollies, and beer.
• Sucrose is referred to as ‘table sugar’ and consists of glucose plus fructose. It is a common form of sugar found in sugarcane, some fruits and vegetables, and products that have been sweetened (e.g. cereal, ice cream, baked desserts and yogurt).

The sugars in foods are known as simple carbohydrates and are natural components of many fresh foods, such as the lactose in milk and the fructose in fruits. A healthy, well-balanced diet will always contain these natural sugars.

The problem with sugar is the sheer amount of it that’s found in the typical American diet, especially in the form of added sugars: the sucrose in table sugar, as well as sugars in foods such as sodas, cereals, packaged foods, and snacks. When consumed in excess, added sugars can cause weight gain, heart disease, mood swings, and more.  A high-sugar diet can certainly increase the risk of diabetes: Adding just one serving of a sweetened beverage to your diet each day ups risk by 15 percent.  It is important to understand the difference in the variety of sugar processed in the body for maintaining good health.

We live with it 24 hours a day. But how well do we really know our bodies? A book on human anatomy & physiology is a guide that takes you step by step through the major systems of the body, explaining exactly how things work and why they sometimes don’t.

• Cardiovascular System:  Focusing on the heart, you examine its different parts, their responsibilities, and how the processes can break down.  Understanding the cardiovascular system with descriptions of the anatomy and physiology of the great vessels of the body, including arteries, veins, and their relationships can bring about more awareness towards healthy life choices.
• Respiratory System: Tied directly to the structure and function of the heart and great vessels is the respiratory system.
• Nervous System:  Explore the structure and function of the brain itself.
• Digestive System: examine the anatomy and physiology of the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract—the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, the pancreas, liver, and the biliary tree. .
• Endocrine System: Study the anatomy and physiology of the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands, then move on to cover the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine pancreas  Study the endocrine system to look at the anatomy and physiology of the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands.
• Urinary System:  Learn about the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
• Reproductive System: Learn about your reproductive system and genetic inheritance along with its potential problems.
• Musculoskeletal System: Learn the physiology and physics of the muscles.  Examine the anatomy of specific muscle groups.
• Immune System: Learn the structure and function of the body’s major defense mechanism, the immune system.