Food trivia | 70 facts about the famous sweetener

Sugar is a famous sweetener often used in coffe, or other beverages, Many people love it despite its calories. But hom many things do we all know about it?

Well, if the answer is not so much, then let us guide you into the very sweet world of sugar.

1. Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food.
2. Table sugar, granulated sugar, or regular sugar, refers to sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose.
3. Sugars are found in the tissues of most plants.
4. Honey and fruit are abundant natural sources of unbounded simple sugars.
5. Sugar is one of the world’s oldest ingredients.
6. The people of New Guinea were most likely the first to domesticate sugar cane around 8000 B.C.
7. In the 16th century, a teaspoon of sugar cost the equivalent of five dollars in London.
8. The word “sugar” originates from the Sanskrit word sharara, which means “material in a granule form.”
9. The American Heart Association recommends that adult women eat no more than 24 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added (beyond naturally occurring sugar) sugar.
10. About men, it is recommended no more than 36 grams, or 9 teaspoons, per day.
11. The current average is over 30 teaspoons of sugar per day.
12. The only taste humans are born craving is sugar.
13. The tallest sugar cube tower measured 6 feet, 10 inches, and was built by Camille Courgeon of France on July 1, 2013.
14. The tower used 2,669 cubes and was built in 2 hours and 59 minutes.
15. In 1822, the average American ate 45 grams of sugar—which is the amount in one of today’s 12 oz. sodas—every five days.
16. In 2012, Americans consumed 765 grams of sugar every five days.
17. Heinz ketchup contains 1 teaspoon of sugar in each 1 tablespoon serving.
18. Too much sugar can increase the overall risk of heart disease.
19. In fact, sugar actually changes the muscle protein of the heart as well as the pumping mechanics of the heart.
20. Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane seeds to the New World.
21. He introduced them to Hispaniola, on his second voyage in 1493.
22. Excess sugar consumption has been linked to cancer production.
23. Studies have found that high sugar intake negatively affects the survival rates in both breast cancer patients and colon cancer patients.
24. Someone can be actually addicted to sugar. It’s not a lie or an exaggeration!
25. Sugar addiction may be genetic.
26. Studies show that those who had genetic changes in a hormone called ghrelin consume more sugar (and alcohol) than those who had no gene variation.
27. Sugar and alcohol have similar toxic liver effects.
28. Additionally, liver damage can occur even without excess calories or weight gain.
29. A 2009 study found that glucose consumption accelerated the aging of cells in the body.
30. Additionally, a 2012 study found that excess sugar consumption was tied to deficiencies in memory and overall cognitive processing.
31. Sugar is found in unlikely places, such as tonic water, marinades, crackers, bread, fat-free dressing, and tomato sauce.
32. There are even some -healthy snacks- such as fruits that contain sugar. For example, one of these is the watermelon.
33. A 2013 study found that at least 180,000 deaths worldwide are linked to sweetened-beverage consumption.
34. The U.S. alone accounted for 25,000 deaths in 2010
35. One 20 oz. bottle of Coca Cola has 65 grams of sugar.
36. This is the same amount of sugar in five Little Debbie Swiss Rolls.
37. A 15.2 oz. bottle of Minute Maid 100% Apple Juice contains 49 grams of sugar.
38. This is about the same amount of sugar in 10 Oreos.
39. A 16 oz. can of Monster Energy has 54 ounces of sugar.
40. This is the same amount of sugar as 3.5 cups of Frosted Flakes._[13]
41. A 32 oz. Gatorade bottle has 36 grams of sugar.
42. This is like eating 5 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
43. A Grande Starbucks Iced Flavored drink has about 28 grams of sugar, which is the same amount of sugar in 2.5 Krispy Kreme donuts.
44. Lemons have more sugar than strawberries.
45. Sugar threatens more than thin waistlines.
46. It has also been associated with several conditions and diseases, including type 2 diabetes, arthritis, acne, heart disease, depression, thrush/yeast infections, and cancer.
47. More than half of the 8.4 million metric tons of sugar that is produced in the United States each year comes from sugar beets.
48. The scientists who discovered sucralose (Splenda) were trying to make an insecticide.
49. An assistant thought he had been instructed to “taste” a sample he had been asked to “test.”
50. The sweetest compound known is called lugduname. I
51. t’s over 20,000 times sweeter than sugar.
52. Researchers note that sugar is not necessarily a health problem, but the amount of sugar we consume is
53. When sugar was first introduced to England in the twelfth century, it was grouped with other tropical spices like ginger, cinnamon, and saffron.
54. It was used only by the very wealthy to season savory dishes.
55. Back in time, sugar was not considered harmful, but it was used as medicine.
56. The use of sugar as a medicine dates back at least as far as ninth-century Iraq.
57. Back then it was combined with fruits and spices to make medicinal syrups, powders, and infusions.
58. Centuries later, British doctors prescribed sugar to cure a range of diseases/
59. One 18th century physician even suggested blowing sugar powder into the eyes to cure eye ailments and irritations.
60. At first, in Europe sugar was so rare and expensive only royalty could afford it—and in very small quantities at that.
61. In the 13th century, for example, British monarch Henry III once tried to order three pounds of sugar but expressed doubts that so much sugar could even be found in England.
62. By 1850, working-class consumption of sugar had eclipsed that of the wealthier classes.
63. As the price of sugar dropped, the working classes began using it in a range of baked goods, porridges, and “hasty puddings”—so-called because they could be prepared quickly and with ease.
64. Perhaps most importantly, the working classes began adding sugar to tea—a tradition which, of course, persists to this day.
65. Sugar has been used as a preservative for hundreds of years.
66. High sugar concentrations cause bacteria to lose water through a process called osmosis—and without water, bacteria can’t grow or divide.
67. Dt dogs enjoy sweet foods, even though it’s not recommended for them to eat.
68. On the other side while cats and other felines don’t have sweetness receptors in their brains.
69. Sugar is the main component in “rocket candy”—a popular form of model rocket fuel.
70. Scientists though are still working on making a practical sugar-based car fuel.