23 Sugar: Too Much of a Good Thing?-Mid

Sugar: Too Much of a Good Thing? FOCUS Question Is sugar healthy or unhealthy for your body?

Sugar Science Do you enjoy eating foods that taste sweet? Sugar is the compound that gives a lot of foods their sweet flavor. Sugar sometimes has a bad reputation but what makes it healthy or unhealthy? Let's find out! Sugar is a carbohydrate. All carbohydrates are made of molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates are full of energy and are found in many healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk. Like proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water, carbohydrates are essential for good health. Plants make sugar inside their cells using a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide and water, along with energy from the Sun, to produce sugar and oxygen.

The sugar made during photosynthesis is called glucose, and plants use it as food. Inside plant cells, chemical reactions break down the glucose and release energy. Plants use this energy to live grow, and reproduce. But plants don't use all the glucose right away—they store some of it so they can use the energy later. Think about all the things you do on a regular day. Maybe you ride your bike to school, participate in a kickball game during recess, and read a book. You need energy for everything you do! The good news is that when you eat food from plants, you're getting stored energy from carbohydrates to keep you fueled throughout the day. Science in Your World The calorie is a unit that measures the amount of energy in food Food. that contains more energy also has more calories The number of calories you need depends on several things, including how active you are. One gram of carbohydrates contains four calories of energy.

Simple and Complex Sugar comes in many different forms Simple sugars, or simple carbohydrates, are made of only one or two sugar molecules. Our bodies can use simple sugars such as glucose quickly. Just as in plant cells, chemical reactions in a person's cells break down glucose and release energy. Complex carbohydrates are made of more than two sugar molecules linked together in a chain. Plants and animals often store glucose in the form of starch. To release the energy from starch, the body has to break it down into individual glucose molecules. When you eat foods that contain a lot of complex carbohydrates—such as potatoes, rice, wheat, and corn—your body breaks them down more slowly and gives you a steady supply of energy. TYPES OF SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES Simple Carbohydrate Composition Common Foods glucose 1 glucose molecule fruits, vegetables fructose 1 fructose molecule fruits, vegetables, honey galactose 1 galactose molecule milk, yogurt, ice cream sucrose 1 glucose molecule + 1 fructose molecule fruits, vegetables, added to many foods lactose 1 glucose molecule + 1 galactose molecule milk, yogurt, ice cream

Both simple and complex carbohydrates occur naturally in many foods, such as fruits vegetables, grains, and beans. When you eat these foods as part of a balanced diet, they give you the energy you need for all your daily activities. However, eating too much sugar can lead to health issues. Many foods and drinks such as cookies, candy, and soda, have simple carbohydrates added to them When you eat these foods, sugar is immediately released into your bloodstream. Your body may get more sugar than it needs and may save it as fat to use later. Many doctors say kids should take in less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar each day. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down in your digestive system. Their sugar is absorbed into your bloodstream more slowly, so your body is less likely to be overloaded with sugar.

Sugar and Diabetes You've just finished lunch. What happens to the sugar in the food you ate? Once your body has digested the meal, glucose enters your bloodstream. An organ called the pancreas makes insulin, a chemical that allows your cells to take in glucose from the blood and use it for energy. Some people have diabetes (dye-uh-BEE-tees), a disease in which the pancreas can't make insulin or the insulin doesn't work properly. The cells can't absorb enough glucose from the blood, so they can't make enough energy. A high level of glucose stays in the blood and can damage blood vessels and organs. People with untreated diabetes are often hungry, thirsty, and tired, and need to use the bathroom more frequently. ROLES OF GLUCOSE AND INSULIN 1. You eat a meal Glucose enters your bloodstream. 2. Insulin in the blood acts like a key to "unlock" cells, allowing glucose to enter. 3. Glucose moves from the bloodstream into the cells. 4. Your cells use the glucose to make energy.