All about Sugars

All about Sugars

  

This is a bit of knowledge from my gook Vegetarian Saga. 

The book is on editorial mode and correcting typos. 

I do not have secretary as when I was in the University.

 

American corn syrup is a liquid sweetener made from cornstarch, commonly used in the food industry. It is a staple in the United States, used in various applications like baking, candy making, and as an ingredient in beverages and processed foods. 

While often confused with high-fructose corn syrup, regular corn syrup primarily consists of glucose, whereas high-fructose corn syrup has a higher proportion of fructose. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a modified form of corn syrup, where enzymes convert some of the glucose into fructose, making it sweeter.
 

In biology, sugars, also known as saccharides, are broadly classified into monosaccharides and disaccharides. Monosaccharides are the simplest forms of sugars, including glucose, fructose, and galactose. 

Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides bond together, examples being sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose) and maltose (two glucose molecules).
Pentoses are monosaccharides (simple sugars) that contain five carbon atoms. 

Examples include ribose, deoxyribose, arabinose, and xylose. They are crucial components of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) and are involved in various metabolic pathways.          

In particular, ribose is the pentose sugar component of the nucleotides of RNA whereas deoxyribose is the sugar component of the nucleotides of DNA.

 
Brown sugar's benefits primarily stem from the molasses it contains, which offers a slightly richer flavor and can make baked goods more moist and chewy. Brown sugar is also good for digestion because it is made up of molasses which promotes a healthy digestive system and bowel movements. Furthermore, the fibre in brown sugar leads to lower absorption of sugar by the body, which helps you regulate blood sugar levels. 

 

White or refined sugar does contain residual chemicals from the refining process, although the main component is still sucrose. 

These chemicals are used to purify and bleach the sugar. 

Examples include sulfur dioxide, lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) and phosphoric acid. 

While the amounts are generally considered safe, some individuals may be sensitive to these chemicals.
Sulfur dioxids is used as a bleaching agent and preservative to prevent discoloration and microbial growth. Lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) is used for pH adjustment and to remove impurities. Phosphoric acid is used to clarify the sugar.