refined sugar vs naturally occurring sugar

  • October 18, 2020

refined sugar vs naturally occurring sugar

Here at nudie we pride ourselves on capturing and bottling the natural goodness of real fruit. Not only do we believe naturally occurring sugar is all our juice needs to remain as scrumptious as possible, but we’re committed to avoiding the big nasties like added and refined sugars. Not quite sure what the deal is when it comes to the sweet stuff? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

  • the basics

    Okey dokey, it’s important to understand that sugar in any form is a simple carb that your body uses and converts into glucose to get that much-needed energy hit. While there are different types of sugars found in all kinds of food, when we saysay, ‘naturally occurring sugar’, we’re talking about sugar naturally present in the food we eat (like fruits and vegetables) in quantities prescribed by Mother Nature. Refined sugar on the other hand is an ingredient manufactured by processing certain crops like sugar cane, or sugar beet, to isolate the sugar so that it can be added to food or drinks to make them sweeter. Refining the sugar means stripping out other beneficial nutrients that ordinarily come along with foods we eat, like those found in your favourite apples and oranges. Eeek! When this happens, all we’re left with is a refined sugar.

  • naturally delicious

    Naturally occurring sugar is sugar that is already present in food and hasn’t been tampered with through additional refining processes. It’s inherent within many foods such as fruit and veggies, dairy products, and whole grains. While it’s still considered “sugar”, naturally occurring sugar is something that can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet. It gives us energy, and depending on the source of these naturally-occurring sugars, they can also provide a good serve of vitamins and minerals, which are essential for keeping our bodies functioning well.

    Vitamin C, which is found in citrus fruits, helps support a healthy immune system, protect cells against damage from ‘free radicals’, and can even help reduce tiredness.

    Vitamin A, which is also commonly found in orange, yellow, and red-coloured fruits and vegetables, is an essential nutrient your body needs for eye health (remember how mum and dad used to say eating carrots would help you see in the dark?). OK, so you probably won’t get super, powerful night vision but it can’t hurt to dream, can it?

  • what’s a sugar lover to do?

    It’s a tough one, but keep in mind that sugar is still sugar, whether it’s naturally derived or added. What’s important to remember is that balance, variety, and moderation are the best ways to get what you need and still be able to treat yourself to those ‘sometimes’ food and drinks. Satisfying that sweet-tooth with foods containing natural sugars, like fruits and fruit juice, can make it easier to keep that balance and get those other essential vitamins and minerals you need at the same time. In line with the Australian government recommendations, two serves of fruit per day is the aim, and enjoying 125ml of your favourite nudie juice can help you on your way.