In this blog we are going to tell you about Difference between Sugar and Starch, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.
Carbohydrate is one of the essential nutrients in our daily diet. It provides us with enough energy for daily activities. Carbohydrates are the sugar that is available in two different types including simple and complex. Simple forms of carbohydrates are referred to as sugars while complex forms of carbohydrates are referred to as starch. Besides this basic difference, there are several significant differences between these two terms. Further, it is important to know the difference because not everyone can consume sugar and starch as they are associated with several illnesses. Continue reading the article to know more about sugar and starch along with the difference between them so that you can decide whether you should consume them or not.
About Sugar
Sugar is a form of carbohydrate with a sweet taste. It provides energy to the human body and can be easily digested. But excess sugar consumption can lead to diabetes. Diabetes is a common illness as 8 out of 10 people are suffering from diabetes nowadays. This is the reason one should be careful while having sugar. Sugar is a form of carbohydrate so it is mainly found in food items like rice, bread, milk, potato, beans, and others. It is also known as a simple sugar or simple carbohydrate because when it enters the body, it gets digested very easily. So there is no need for further breakdown and thus they are referred to as simple.
About Starch
Starch is a form of complex carbohydrate. It is referred to as complex because when it enters the body through different foods, it first breaks down and is then digested by the body. Unlike sugar, it is not easily digested as first it is broken into simple sugars than can be digested. Starch is rich in fibers. Food items that contain starch include fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, and others. This is the reason diabetic patients are recommended to eat fiber content foods as fiber avoids the increase in sugar levels in the human body. But unlike sugar, it does not provide instant energy as it takes time to release energy.
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Main Differences between Sugar and Starch
While both sugar and starch are carbohydrates, there are a lot of differences between them. It is important to know the difference between these two to maintain a healthy diet. So The following are the main differences between Sugar and Starch as mentioned below:
- The main difference between Sugar and Starch is that Sugar is a form of simple carbohydrate while Starch is a form of complex carbohydrate.
- Sugars are easily digested by the body while starch is not easily digested as it takes time to digest by the human body.
- Sugars are mainly sweet whereas Starch is not that sweet.
- Sugar is made of either a single sugar molecule or two simple sugar molecules which are linked together by glycosidic bond whereas Starches are made of long chains of simple sugars like glucose.
- Sugars are not rich in fiber while Starch is rich in fiber and thus people who are suffering from diabetes should consume starch as they are fiber-rich foods.
- Examples of sugar include monosaccharides and disaccharides while examples of starch include amylose and glycogen.
- When consumed, Sugar is directly absorbed by the human body whereas Starch is first broken into simple sugar and then digested by the body.
- Sugars are a direct source of energy while starch is a storage source of energy.
Conclusion
We all know a healthy body leads to a healthy mind so it is necessary to be careful before consumption of certain foods. Similarly, Excess sugar consumption can be harmful to many people. This is the reason if you are a diabetic patient then you should consume Starch rather than sugar to stay away from further complications. Both Sugar and Starch are a form of carbohydrates that can be easily available in different food items so you have to be careful before consuming carbohydrate-rich food items. We hope that this article was helpful and now as you know the difference between Sugar and Starch, you will consume them accordingly to not face any issues.
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