Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Natural Sugar vs. Added Sugar: What's the Difference?

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Natural Sugar vs. Added Sugar: What's the Difference?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jun 16 2026
A bowl of raspberries and a can of soda can show similar grams ofsugar, yet your body handles them very differently. The differencebetween natural sugar and added sugar is the fiber and nutrients thatcome with it, not the molecule. Here is how to tell them apart, whyguidelines cap added sugar near 50 grams a day, and how to read alabel in seconds.
Bar chart comparing the glycemic index of common sweeteners — glucose, refined cane sugar, honey, coconut sugar, agave nectar, and stevia leaf extract — with a high-glycemic-index threshold line at 55

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Coconut Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Glycemic Index Compared

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on May 12 2026
Coconut sugar's glycemic index has been reported anywhere from 35to 54, compared with around 65 for refined cane sugar. The lab gapis real, but a 2022 trial in adults with type 2 diabetes foundnearly identical blood-sugar responses to the two sweeteners. Hereis how to read the data without the marketing.