How sugar is made, essay turned in by Medic.

How sugar is made.
Sugar is made using two different methods. The sugar beet and the sugar cane are used to make sugar. I will go over how both of those items are used to make. Then I would like to talk about how bad sugar can be for you.
Sugar beets:
Sugar beets are grown in the cooler climates, such as North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. They are green leafy plants with large roots that hold the sucrose used to make sugar. When they are harvested, they are sent to processing plants. Once there, they are washed to remove gravel and debris that has remained from the harvesting process.
The beets are washed and cut into slices. These slice are mixed in a hot liquid and then placed in a diffuser. The diffuser separates the raw sugar from the plant pulp. The raw sugar goes through several purification and filtering process.
The purified sugar syrup now goes through a crystallizing process. First, the syrup is carefully boiled. Then it is seeded with microscopic sugar crystals. The crystals start collecting until they are the right size. The whole syrup mixture is then placed in the centrifuge that spins until the crystals are separated from the mixture. And now you have granulated sugar.
Sugar cane:
Sugar cane, in the US, can be found in warm tropical climates. Primarily in Florida. Sugar cane usually grows all year round. Most of their growth happens during the summer seasons. Cane plants are long green-like stalks that can grow up to 10 to 14 feet tall. When it is time to harvest the canes, the stalks are burned to remove the dead leafy matter and the thick waxy coating. The waxy coating has had different pesticides to prevent viruses attacking the stalks.
The burning of the stalks is quick and now it is ready to be cut. The stalks can be cut by hand, which is better for the economy. Or, the stalks can be cut by machinery. The stalks are usually cut in foot long sections and bundled up to be transported to the refineries.
Once at the refinery, the cane stalks are washed to remove all dirt and debris. Next, they are sent through several mills where the stalks are crushed to remove the sugary syrup. The crushed plant is then treated with lime and boiled. Now, the crushed stalk is put through the diffuser to remove the sugary juice from the pulp. The juice will go through the crystallization step like the sugar beet juice. It is seeded with the microscopic crystals that collect until they are big enough to be separated in the centrifuge. That is how you get granulated sugar.
Why sugar can be bad for you:
White sugar is 99.96% sucrose. It has been said that white sugar can rob the body of vitamin B, has a deleterious effect on the nervous system, and disturb the calcium metabolism in the body. Brown sugar is no better than pure white sugar. Brown sugar is a mixture of white sugar and molasses. The molasses used is filtered through burned beef bones. It is said that the burned beef bones give the molasses, brown sugar, an “ aesthetic” quality. The making of sugar, whether it is white, light brown, brown or dark brown, makes sugar a non organic product. You can choose to use sugar or you can find alternatives like honey. I am going to try and avoid all sugars and sugar processed foods, like junk food. I have learned quite a bit about sugar. I am going to use that to make myself healthier.