Why Are Reducing Sugars Important?

Q: What are the benefits of reducing sugar intake on the individual and the population? Reducing sugar intake lowers specifically the risk of developing overweight and obesity, and in turn in developing diabetes. It also has a significant effect on lowering dental caries.

Why do we reduce sugars?

Reducing sugars react with amino acids in the Maillard reaction, a series of reactions that occurs while cooking food at high temperatures and that is important in determining the flavor of food. Also, the levels of reducing sugars in wine, juice, and sugarcane are indicative of the quality of these food products.

What is the most common form of a reducing sugar and why is it important?

Glucose is the most common carbohydrate. This monosaccharide serves as the main source of energy for living things. It can be absorbed directly into the blood from the intestines due to its simple chemical structure. The presence of aldehyde makes glucose a reducing sugar.