Chemistry & Labels
This is the monosaccharide most commonly known as fruit sugar.
What is fructose?
This is the unit used on nutrition labels to quantify the energy provided by sugar.
What are Calories?
This is the non-nutritive, plant-derived sweetener marketed as 'natural.'
What is Stevia?
This culinary process gives caramel sauce its brown color and is only possible with actual sugar.
What is caramelization?
This is the official acronym for the maximum amount of a sweetener considered safe to consume daily over a lifetime.
What is ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake)?
This is the primary scientific name for common table sugar.
What is sucrose?
This is the hormone released by the pancreas in response to high blood sugar.
What is insulin?
This is the primary reason an endurance athlete consumes simple sugars during a long race.
What is to provide fast, usable energy (or replenish glycogen)?
This crucial function, besides sweetness, is provided by sugar in baked goods.
What is browning (or retaining moisture/tenderizing)?
This specific non-nutritive sweetener must carry a warning label for people with Phenylketonuria (PKU).
What is Aspartame?
This is the specific chemical element added to the sucrose molecule to create the sweetener sucralose.
What is chlorine?
This is the primary medical condition linked to chronic high intake of added sugars.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
This is the term for the storage form of glucose in your muscles and liver.
What is glycogen?
Xylitol is an example of this sugar substitute, which causes a cooling sensation in the mouth.
What is a sugar alcohol?
The FDA concludes there is currently no clear evidence that approved artificial sweeteners cause this disease in humans.
What is cancer?
This high-intensity sweetener is often sold under the brand name Equal.
What is aspartame?
Non-nutritive sweeteners generally have this kind of rating on the Glycemic Index.
What is a low or near-zero GI?
This is the classification that the FDA gives to sweeteners like honey and maple syrup when they are added to processed foods.
What are added sugars?
This common liquid natural sweetener, high in fructose, is often used in cocktails and health drinks.
What is Agave Nectar?
This key feature, mandated by the FDA, quantifies all sugars added during processing, including natural ones like honey.
What are Grams of Added Sugars?
This is the specific element that is fundamental to the structure of all sugars (carbohydrates) but is not found in water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$
What is carbon?
This is the fat molecule created in the liver when it processes excessive amounts of fructose.
What are triglycerides?
This is the paradox where artificial sweeteners might contribute to weight gain by confusing metabolic signals or increasing cravings.
What is the metabolic or sweet craving paradox?
This is the reason artificial sweeteners often fail in a $1:1$ replacement for sugar in complex baking recipes.
What is they lack the bulk, volume, and functional properties?
This is the term for the shift in a person's taste perception, making naturally sweet foods less appealing after repeated consumption of intensely sweet substitutes.
What is taste desensitization (or preference for intense sweetness)?