Sugar and Glycemic Index - Different Sweeteners Compared

My particular view on sweeteners is that they are drugs that just so happen to be legal. Like many drugs, sugar isn't necessarily bad unless you consume too much. When you ingest sugar, it gets released into the bloodstream and your blood sugar level rises. Your pancreas then secretes insulin to stabilize this blood sugar level and excess much of the sugars get moved to the liver where it can be further processed or excreted with urine. The way in which your pancreas excretes insulin is called the insulin response and putting too much stress on it can wear it out. This can lead to things like weight gain and long term risks like diabetes and hypoglycemia if left unchecked.
Glycemic Index
Glycemic Index is measured between 0 and 100 of how fast carbohydrates raise blood glucose levels. The faster carbohydrates break down and raise blood sugar, the higher the glycemic index. Low glycemic index foods are usually preferred because they raise blood sugar levels more slowly and are less detrimental to the insulin response. Foods that have a GI of 70 or more are considered to be high.
The Agave Syrup issue
I said that "Low glycemic index foods are usually preferred". It's not as cut and dry as you may think. Looking at the chart, you may think that agave syrup is obviously a proper choice in regards to including it in your diet as a sweetener. Unfortunately, some sugars that are low on the GI scale are low because instead of getting processed in the lower intestine, like most sugars, they get processed by the liver like alcohol. Agave syrup falls in this category and the concern is that when it gets processed in the liver, the liver converts it to fat and places it in the bloodstream. Due to this, I don't recommend agave syrup as a sweetener.Learn more about the pitfalls of agave syrup.
Different sweeteners have different GI levels. Below is a chart to see where your favorite sweetener places on this scale.
Sweeteners and Glycemic Index
Sweetener | Glycemic Index |
---|---|
Stevia | <1*** |
Agave Syrup | 11* |
Fructose | 22** |
Brown Rice Syrup | 25*** |
Barley Malt | 42*** |
Maple Syrup | 54* |
Blackstrap Molasses | 55*** |
Corn Syrup | 75*** |
Turbinado Sugar | 65*** |
White Sugar | 80*** |
High Fructose Corn Syrup | 87*** |
Glucose | 100* |
*These values are gathered from University of Sydney's Glycemic Index Database at www.glycemicindex.com
**These values are gathered from www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_food_diet/glycemic_index.php
***These values are gathered from www.greenmagazines.com/organic/alternative-sugars.php

Note the high GI of high fructose corn syrup. As of this writing, an increasing number of prepared foods are including high fructose corn syrup due to its affordability. Due to its high GI most health professionals recommend reducing high fructose corn syrup intake as much as possible.
Keep in mind that regular white sugar tends to have the best flavor in baked goods because it's the most neutral. Using a sweetener other than what a recipe was designed to use usually results in compromising flavor in the baked item. Turbinado sugar isn't as high as refined sugar on the GI scale and tends to not 'color' your baked item's sweetness profile too excessively. It's used frequently in my kitchen.
If you have a sweet tooth it's a good idea to reduce excess high glycemic foods in your diet when convenient, get plenty of exercise and pay attention to protein intake to balance blood sugar levels. Remember that both sugar and moderation are best used in moderation.
Lollipops by Dhammza via Flickr
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Philadelphia arborists
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Hands down Cane sugar over regular sugar any day!
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I'll take cane sugar over all of the artificial stuff any day.
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Artificial sweeteners are my favorite constipation relief! Taste the best too. LOL :P
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MS,ND
At this time, I don't think it good to have vegans looking like we "Junk food" dieter with the obesity and diabetes epidemic. The trend is to blame "Carbohydrates" and that not just REFINED sugar, but fruits, grains, beans, potatoes. and promote high FAT, Grass fed Animal Protein. That not good for Animals and Rainforest, water, and Planet which is what being a VEGAN is all about............Vegan is a LIFESTYLE with a moral philosphy.
Baking creates THE CARCINOGEN, acrylamide also. I am to understand the GI of coconut sugar should be SAME AS REFINED WHITE SUGAR, since the sugar composition is same 50% glucose, and 50% fructose, so it should be 70 also and not 35, the 35 was stated from the University of Philippine...so it may be a "marketing con". Although coconut sugar appears to have alot more molassess and MINERALS. nutritional better composition.

Coconut sugar
I use 100% raw coconut sugar (dehydrated coconut sap) in my baking. It's rated the lowest sweetener in the glycemic index at 35 compared to honey and maple sugar both at 55 and refined cane sugar at 70. I simply don't like stevia.

TerryV,
You're asking about honey on a vegan website. But honey is not a vegan product.
Mr
You forgot to mention the under valued Coconut Syrup which has an average Glycemic Rating of 35.
Best tasting Coconut Syrup is BaliNutra available, 100% Natural, No GMO, No artificial flavors or preservatives.
www.BaliNutra.com
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Um, some proofreading would be in order here..hasn't anyone noticed that the first two paragraphs are exactly the same? And fyi, "it's" = "it is". Period.
Apart from this, I notice honey (raw or otherwise) isn't included in the list. I would also like to know the GI's of sucanat, and sucanat with honey, also labeled "honey granules".

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help me to stop eating sugar

You cited a blog with absolutely no sources itself for your glycemic index.