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Uses of Simple Sugars

Simple sugars (also known as monosaccharides) are the basic units of carbohydrates. When more complex sugars are broken down, these are what remain. The body uses simple sugars for many different processes, depending on which kind of simple sugar is left over after the complex carbohydrate is broken down.

  1. Glucose

    • Glucose is the simple sugar of energy. In the process known as cellular respiration, glucose is delivered through your blood stream and is broken down into units of energy known as ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate.) When people talk about your blood sugar level, they are referring to the level of glucose in your blood. If you eat a food that is rich in carbohydrates, it will increase your blood sugar level. If you don't eat enough, it will decrease your blood sugar level and make you feel tired because there isn't enough cellular respiration taking place.

    Fructose

    • The second most well-known simple sugar is often converted into glucose by the liver and then used in cellular respiration. Fructose can also be used to feed the important flora balance in the stomach, digest certain micronutrients like chromium and zinc, and can replenish nutrients that have been lost in a depleted body. That being said, fructose has taken a lot of flak due to processed high-fructose corn syrup finding its way into many soft drinks and sweet foods. When taken in excess, fructose can elevate LDL cholesterol and produce obesity.

    Galactose

    • Galactose is the simple sugar that results when the disaccharide lactose (from milk) is broken down. This simple sugar can be transformed into glucose by the liver as well, but it has many health benefits in the body. Galactose reduces the incidence of cataracts, increases the amount of healthy bacteria and improves the communication between cells. Possibly most important for growing bodies--galactose helps to form breast milk in the mammary glands for mothers.

    Other Simple Sugars

    • Xylose is a simple sugar that is often present in the embryos of edible plants. Ribose is an important simple sugar used to replicate DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) as a part of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid.) Some bodybuilders use the simple sugar to increase muscle gains, though studies have not been conclusive. There are many other sugar variations that involve combinations of these five sugars in different ways.

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