The different types of sugars

One debate raging in the world of nutrition right now is the consumption of added sugar.

The differences between types of sugar

Not all types of sugar are created equal. They are found under the big family of carbohydrates.

In this family, there are different types of sugar, including starch, dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruit, and added sugars, such as those found in refined white sugar.

Are honey and maple syrup healthy options?

To reduce our intake of added sugar, we generally turn to other healthier sweet options, like honey or maple syrup.

However, you should be careful because these two sugars are in liquid form. As a result, we tend to put a little more in our yogurt or recipes, which spikes our carbohydrate intake for the day.

Nevertheless, these two options contain antioxidants, which are absent in sugar. 

For maple syrup, you can find an antioxidant called Québécol in honor of Québec, which is the world' s largest producer of maple syrup.

Although there are several types of sugar, honey and maple syrup have the benefit of having a glycemic index that is lower than that of refined white sugar, making them better choices for diabetics.

Maintaining balance

Finally, remember that it is important for every meal to have a source of protein and a source of dietary fiber.

For example, at breakfast, you could have a fruit parfait made with Greek yogurt, rich in protein, along with homemade cereal topped honey and fresh fruit for fiber.

Familiprix in collaboration with Hubert Cormier