Sugar Essay

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Sugars are carbohydrates naturally occurring in foods such as fruit, vegetables milk and grains, providing dietary energy, sweetness and various functional properties in food applications. It has been used as a food stabilizer and an essential ingredient in domestic food preparation and preservation for centuries. There are several types of sugars including sucrose, a disaccharide (C12H22O11) composed of fructose and glucose naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables and lactose derived from milk. Sucrose is the end product of the photosynthesis process in plants and is extracted for commercial use and consumption. Main source of sugar is derived from high sugar containing plants such as sugar beets and sugar cane and may be further manufactured into different types of sugars, including brown sugar, powdered sugar or liquid sugar. It is widely used in foods and beverages to enhance sensory attributes including sweet taste, flavor and texture as well as other physical and chemical properties. (Linden, Lorient, 1999)
Sugar is an indispensable ingredient in many foods and beverages as it delivers many functional properties critical to product manufacturing and overall taste, flavor and appearance. Functional …show more content…

Humans are born with an innate desire for sweet tastings foods, as carbohydrates act as brain fuel and main source of energy for bodily functions. (Beauchamp, Cowart, 1987) Sugar delivers sweet taste, enhances flavors when added to other food components and balances out undesirable attributes, such as acidity and bitterness. Heating sugar above its melting point results in breakdown of its structure and produces desirable brown flavor notes known as caramel. In addition to caramelization, at high temperatures, sugar combined with protein generates browning through Maillard reaction, which also contributes to the characteristic taste and aroma of baked goods and aids in moisture

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