Sugars in Isagenix Products

When you look at the ingredient labels of Isagenix products, you’ll probably notice that some of them include sugar. This might occur in different forms such as dextrose, sucrose, fructose, honey, molasses and agave syrup.

1. Is sugar bad for me?

Sugars are a type of carbohydrate that are found naturally in many foods that contribute to a healthy diet including fruit, vegetables and dairy products (1).

All carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, such as glucose, before being absorbed by the body. The body’s tissues require a constant supply of glucose which is used to fuel metabolic functions within the body (1).

Consuming a small amount of sugars as part of a balanced diet is not bad for your health. A small amount of sugar will not cause weight gain, however frequently consuming foods that are high in sugar, such as sweets, soft drinks, cakes and biscuits, may lead to weight gain if the overall calorie intakes exceeds the needs of the body (2). Here is where Isagenix products are unique: although our products contain a small amount of sugar, they offer many positive nutrients such as protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals too, which are all an essential part of a healthy diet.

2. Why is fructose used as a source of sugars in IsaLean™ Shake and other products?

Fructose is naturally found in nearly all fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is slightly sweeter than other sources of sugars allowing for less use of sugar overall (3). In fact, the total amount of fructose included in one serving of IsaLean™ Shake Creamy Vanilla or Creamy Chocolate flavour is approximately the same amount found in a medium-sized apple (100g) (4), and the Creamy Strawberry flavour has even less fructose!

3. I heard that fructose is harmful to health. Is this true?

Overconsumption of any nutrient that provides energy, whether this is carbohydrate, protein or fat, can be harmful to your health (5). This is because consuming more energy than your body needs can lead to weight gain over a period of time (6). However, moderate use of fructose in Isagenix products is at levels that can help support your overall health and weight loss goals (7).

4. Why do you have sugar in Nourish for Life?

Nourish for Life™ has a moderate amount of sugar in the form of fructose to help provide energy on Cleanse Days* to fuel your body. It also adds a hint of sweetness!

5. Should I be concerned about sugar in Isagenix products?

As long as products are consumed in the recommended amounts, there’s no reason to be afraid of sugars in Isagenix products. Swapping common high-sugar foods for Isagenix products is an easy and great-tasting way to improve your diet and lifestyle.

References

1. British Nutrition Foundation. Carbohydrate. 2012. Available at: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritionscience/nutrients-food-and-ingredients/carbohydrate.html?limit=1&start=1 (accessed 21/07/2017)
2. British Dietetic Association. Food Fact Sheet: Sugar. 2017. Available at: https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/Sugar.pdf (accessed 21/07/2017)
3. Sievenpiper JL, Chiavaroli L, de Souza RJ et al. ‘Catalytic’ doses of fructose may benefit glycaemic control without harming cardiometabolic risk factors: a small meta-analysis of randomised controlled feeding trials. Br J Nutr 2012;1-6.
4. Public Health England. Composition of foods integrated dataset (CoFID). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/composition-of-foods-integrated-dataset-cofid (accessed 21/07/2017)
5. Cassady BA, Considine RV, Mattes RD. Beverage consumption, appetite, and energy intake: what did you expect? Am J Clin Nutr 2012; 95:587-93
6. Blundell JE. Physical activity and appetite control: can we close the energy gap? Nutr Bull 2011; 36:356-366
7. Sievenpiper JL, de Souza RJ, Mirrahimi A et al. Effect of Fructose on Body Weight in Controlled Feeding Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2012;156:291-304.

*A Cleanse Day is a nutritionally supported fast that nourishes and energises your body’s own detoxification systems. For further Cleanse Day information, visit https://www.isagenix.com/en-gb.