Are all types of sugar bad? Here are the characteristics and impact of each one

Reducing sugar consumption levels generates almost immediate benefits for the body and mind: not only is it the perfect decision for losing weight, but there is also a substantial improvement in aspects such as skin, teeth, sleep and memory.

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that, when consumed, is transformed into glucose and, in turn, into energy for the human body. It receives different names according to the chemical composition of the foods in which it is found, and for this reason, some types of sugar are less harmful than others.

Sucrose, for example, is common in many fruits and products such as sugar cane; fructose is also present in fruits and corn; maltose is found in cereals such as malt and is created in the fermentation process of products such as bread and beer; lactose is the sugar present in milk, whose composition is galactose and glucose, and starch, which is the main carbohydrate compound (amylose and amylopectin) and can be found in corn, flour, some cereals and potatoes. This classification was made by the 'Medline plus' portal.

But are they all bad for the body? Natural ones provide calories, but also vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. These nutrients compensate for the sugar they contain. This group includes glucose from bread, fructose from fruit (and many vegetables) and lactose from milk.

The worst offenders are those classified as added sugars . According to a report by National Geographic, there are "more than 260 names for different added sugars (any ingredient ending in “ose” or “syrup” is a type of sugar), which are added to preserve a food, increase texture or volume, and, most commonly, to sweeten or enhance the flavor of often unhealthy, ultra-processed foods."

"Added sugars are often referred to as 'empty calories,' because they are calories that lack nutrients," says Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic, as quoted by National Geographic.

Added sugar , which commonly appears in products such as soft drinks, cookies and baked goods, is one of the main sources of empty calories in the daily diet. By eliminating these foods, the body not only stops consuming unnecessary calories, but weight can be maintained without additional effort.