Few ingredients spark as much confusion as sugar. It's labelled “bad,” blamed for energy crashes, and often avoided entirely. But sugar isn’t one thing, it’s many. And not all of them deserve the same reputation.
From glucose to fructose, sugar alcohols to artificial sweeteners, each type behaves differently in the body. Some provide essential fuel, others offer low-calorie alternatives, and a few are best avoided entirely.
In this blog, we’re breaking down the different types of sugar—what they are, how they work, and where they fit in when it comes to smart, science-backed supplementation.
🍯 What is glucose?
Glucose is the simplest and most essential sugar your body uses for energy. It’s a type of carbohydrate (a monosaccharide) found in many whole foods - and inside every cell in your body.
🌱 Natural Sources of Glucose
Glucose occurs naturally in:
- Fruits like bananas, grapes, and apples
- Vegetables like carrots and corn
- Honey
- Whole grains such as oats and brown rice
Your body also produces glucose by breaking down complex carbohydrates, storing it as glycogen in muscles and the liver.
🔬 How the Body Uses Glucose
Glucose is the central energy currency of the human body, essential to power virtually every function across organ systems. Once absorbed from the digestive tract, glucose enters the bloodstream and is transported to tissues that require energy.
ATP from glucose supports:
- 🧠 Brain function – the brain has a high metabolic demand and depends almost entirely on glucose.
- 💪 Muscle activity – during exercise and rest, skeletal muscles use glucose (stored as glycogen) to generate energy.
- 🩺 Hormonal regulation – glucose availability influences hormones like insulin, glucagon, and cortisol, which help maintain metabolic balance.
- ⚡ Cellular repair and immunity – immune cells rely heavily on glucose for proliferation, signalling, and pathogen defence.
Glucose isn’t just “fuel”—it’s a vital nutrient for cognitive clarity, physical performance, and long-term wellbeing.
✅ How Much Sugar Do You Actually Need?
Just like too much fibre or good fats can be harmful, too much sugar can be too. As with all nutrients, moderation is key with the NHS dietary guidelines allowing for up to 30g of sugar in an average adult diet.
Another key issue is the source of sugar. Soft drinks, sweets, and junk food provide empty calories without nutritional value. These should be occasional treats, not dietary staples.
By contrast, whole foods like fruit and vegetables can offer:
- Natural sugars
- Fibre
- Essential vitamins and minerals
Yet due to modern farming practices and soil nutrient depletion, even the healthiest diets may fall short. For example, today’s spinach contains significantly less magnesium than it did decades ago due to intensive farming and nutrient depletion in soil.
🍬 Why Some Gummies Contain Sugar
Now, you might be wondering about the sugar in our gummy vitamins. Yes, some of them do contain a small amount—but it’s purposeful AND intentional.
We use glucose in certain formulations because it:
- Improves chew and texture
- Stabilises vitamins like folate and B12
- Supports energy-linked nutrient absorption
- Makes it easier to remember to take your supplements
🍓 The Science of Enjoying Food
Did you know? When you enjoy the taste and texture of what you’re eating, your body responds better.
This is known as the cephalic phase response—your brain kick-starts digestion the moment you anticipate food, activating saliva, enzymes, and gut hormones that improve nutrient absorption.
🤪 This means you’re not just more likely to take your vitamins—your body is more likely to benefit from them.
>🍒 Gummy vs Cherry: A Nutritional Comparison
One serving of our Magnesium Gummies contains about as much sugar as a cherry. But while a cherry is 86% water and low in nutrient density, our gummies are packed with targeted, high-potency nutrients (like a supercharged cherry).
To match the magnesium in just one serving of our magnesium gummies, you’d have to eat 3.6 pounds of cherries—far more sugar, far fewer benefits.
🍃 Sugar Alcohols: A Key Ingredient in Our Sugar-Free Range
Sugar alcohols (or polyols) are naturally occurring compounds that offer a low-calorie, low-glycaemic alternative to sugar.
Despite the name, they contain no alcohol and behave differently from traditional sugar in the body.
Benefits of Sugar Alcohols:
- 🩺 Low blood sugar impact – Suitable for diabetes or low-carb lifestyles
- 🦷 Tooth-friendly – They don’t feed plaque-causing bacteria
- ⚖️ Fewer calories – Usually 40–70% less than sugar
- 🧠 Clean taste – No bitter or metallic aftertaste
Some also offer prebiotic benefits, helping feed beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacteria, which can:
- Support short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production
- Improve gut barrier function
- Enhance the gut-skin and gut-brain axis
At Novomins, we purposefully choose whether to use sugar alcohols or glucose in each formulation guided by extensive research to provide a stable, powerful, high-quality supplement to support your health goals.
❌ Why We Don't Use Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are common in low-calorie products—but their safety is controversial.
Studies have linked some to:
While some evidence supports their safety, many of those studies are based on animals. Human impacts—especially long term—are still being studied.
At Novomins, we don’t take the risk.
🧬 Our Sweetener Philosophy: Purpose Over Trend
At Novomins, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we ask: What sweetener makes this gummy effective, clean, and delicious?
That’s why we:
- ✅ Use glucose only when it enhances texture, absorption, or vitamin protection
- ✅ Offer sugar-free alternatives where a low glycaemic load is important
- ✅ Keep sugar levels minimal, functional, and clearly labelled
🌿 Our No-Nasties Promise
As a proud B Corp Certified brand, we ensure every ingredient is:
- Backed by science
- Inspired by nature
- Chosen with intention
Because your wellness routine should work, taste amazing, and stay clean.
TL;DR: Sweeteners Done Right
- Glucose is your body’s natural energy source—fuel for your brain, muscles, and cells.
- Sugar alcohols are natural, low-sugar alternatives that may support gut and dental health.
- We use both—strategically, sparingly, and purposefully.
Whether you’re team sweet or team sugar-free… we have a gummy for it.
