Most people know what sugar is, what monosodium glutamates (MSG) are, and at least understand that they aren't generally good for us.  Most of us try to avoid sugar and MSGs as often as we can.  The question?  What if what we're using to replace it is just as bad? Or worse, it's the same thing with a different name?

That's what is happening in the food industry now.  The next time you're in the store and you see products that are low in sugar, read the nutrition and ingredients labels.  You'll likely find ingredients with names like:

Evaporated cane juice – 99.5% sucrose

Sucrose (“raw sugar”) - unprocessed sugar

Turbinado (“processed raw sugar”) - 99% sucrose

These are new names for sugar.  To compare, white “processed” sugar is 99.9% sucrose.

Evaporated Cane Juice

Evaporated cane juice is just sugar (usually sucrose or “raw sugar”) that's been liquified and then evaporated away to create a sweet juice from the evaporating water.  It costs about three times as much to make as processed white sugar, but it allows the manufacturer to put the new name on the label, avoiding the word “sugar” altogether.

Sucrose

Sucrose is sugar that hasn't been processed.  At first, this sounds good, but this sugar is not fit for consumption due to it being literally fresh from the cane fields.  Sugar cane is harvested and ground up, with most of the fibrous content removed during the milling.  The result is a milled product that is 98% sugar and 2% mold, bacteria, field dirt, and so forth.  This is further refined into processed sugar or it is compressed and “juiced” to make molasses.

Turbinado

Turbinado is cleaned up sucrose.  Most of the time, sucrose and turbinado on the label are literally the same thing.  Turbinado doesn't have “sugar” or anything close to it in its name, so it is often preferred.  It's sold in health food stores as “pure sugar,” though it is no different than processed sugar in nearly all respects.  It does, however, retain some of the Vitamin A and other trace elements.

Amazingly, most of these sugars under a different name are often sold in health food stores and touted as being somehow “healthier” than standard sugar.  The problem is, sugar is not good for you no matter its form.  The only form of sugar that has nutritional value is molasses.

Molasses is the “milk” of the sugar cane.  It's dark, thick, and heavy and hard to cook with in today's kitchen because we expect our cakes to be pure white, our ingredients to be easily measured, and our cooking to be clean and mess-free.

The only difference between the “organic” sugar and the non-organic varieties is whether it was grown using pesticides.  Nutritionally, they are the same: empty.  In the end, sugar is empty calories – about 400 calories in 100 grams.

It does nothing but increase blood sugar levels, raise blood pressure, increase your chances of becoming diabetic, and worse.  It also robs your body of the ability to absorb many beneficial nutrients.

Sugar by any other name is still just sugar.

Try Organic Sugar Free Foods

	Organicville Organic No Added Sugar Ketchup, Gluten Free, 24-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 4) List Price: $20.16 Sale Price: $19.95 Average Rating:
	Organicville’s exciting new organic Ketchup is made with the finest vine-ripened tomatoes and organic seasonings. And as always, we bring it to you without any added sugar! Sweetened with agave nectar, this richly flavored ketchup has the fresh hearty taste and texture you love! This ketchup will add a zesty and healthy flare to burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and more!

Coombs Family Farms 100% Organic Maple Sugar, 25-Ounce Container List Price: $21.64 Sale Price: $16.65 Average Rating:

Nurturing the forest for 7 generations. 100% Pure. USDA Organic. Our certified Organic Maple Sugar is a healthy, Sweetner made entirely from 100% pure maple syrup. Versatile and delicious, it's a delightful topping or ingredient for desserts and pastries; perfect in lemonade, coffee, tea, yogurt, oatmeal and so much more! For 7 generations, Coombs Family Farms has produced great tasting maple by taking special care of our ancient trees...

	GoNaturally Organic Assorted Gluten Free Hard Candies, 30-Ounce Bag List Price: $19.80 Sale Price: $15.23 Average Rating:
	1005 Natural. No artificial flavor. No artificial Color. Made by hand. Made in USA.

	Let's Do Organic Sugar Cones, 12-Count Boxes (Pack of 12) List Price: $47.88 Sale Price: $36.83 Average Rating:
	Let's Do. Organic Sugar Cones are classic sugar-style cones perfect for holding your favorite frozen desserts Top them with a scoop or two of ice cream and garnish with fresh fruit, Let's Do. Organic Gummi Bears, or Let's Do...

	ZOT 100% Organic Licorice, Original, 0.4-Ounce Flip Top Boxes (Pack of 6) List Price: $19.68 Sale Price: $15.14 Average Rating:
	Zot licorice is made in Italy using only the finest southern Italian organically grown licorice plant root.

	Kopali Organics Organic Dried Mango, 1.8 Ounce Pouch (Pack of 6) List Price: $27.00 Sale Price: $20.77 Average Rating:
	We founded Kopali while living and farming on our off-the-grid permaculture farm in the rainforest of Costa Rica. Our goal was to radically improve the quality of the food we eat, the lives of the farmers who grow it, and the planet we all share...

	Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Zero, 12-Ounce Bag (Pack of 2) List Price: $29.96 Sale Price: $23.05 Average Rating:
	Organic Zero is great for diabetics, seniors, active adults, and because Zero is made from plants, it is also perfect for vegetarians. Zero is 70% as sweet as table sugar. But with zero calories and zero on the glycemic index, consumers can indulge with zero guilt.

	Fiona's All Natural Granola, Organic Ginger Walnut, Wheat-Free, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) List Price: $42.00 Sale Price: $32.31 Average Rating:

	Kopali Organics Organic Dried Goldenberry, 1.8 Ounce Pouch (Pack of 6) List Price: $27.00 Sale Price: $20.77 Average Rating:
	Kopali Organics, Organic Dried Goldenberries are super tangy, power treats. They provide bioflavonoids, antioxidant vitamin A and are high in fiber. It is a full serving of 100% real fruit with no added sugar.

	Plum Organics Baby Food, Peach, Apricot & Banana, 4.22-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 24) List Price: $35.76 Sale Price: $30.33 Average Rating:
	Plum Organics Baby Pouches are 100% organic pureed fruits with no added sugar, juice, colors or flavors. The convenient BPA-FREE portable pouch provides a natural way to preserve the flavors and freshness of the food without additives or preservatives...