Here at Brain Wave, we focus on several things. First, we use the highest quality mushrooms on the market, all sourced from a single organic farm and grown on a nutrient-dense superfood substrate. Consistency and integrity matter, and that starts at the source. Second, I want to mention accessibility. We chose gummies for a reason. Not everyone wants powdered mushroom coffee and others simply don’t drink coffee. Our formula works for kids, adults, and elders, and fits seamlessly into daily routines without changing how you enjoy your favorite beverage. Two gummies a day. That’s it. Lastly, inclusivity. We use natural pectin from citrus peels and apples, which requires sugar to set, instead of animal-based gelatin from boiled pigskin, bovine hides, and bones. This allows vegans and carnivores alike to enjoy the health benefits that our gummies provide.
So now let’s talk about that sugar needed for pectin, and why two grams of raw organic cane sugar may not be the villain it’s often made out to be. At Brain Wave raw cane sugar is not a filler, it’s functional. The sugar binds to water molecules, dehydrating the pectin allowing it to form a mesh as it sets. This also creates the right texture and consistency while keeping the ingredient list simple, natural, and plant based.
Keep in mind, not all sugars are created equal. Sugars are often rated using the glycemic index (GI), which measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar. Pure glucose (see structure in the above figure) sits at 100 and serves as the reference point. Anything above 70 is considered high. High-fructose corn syrup (a mix of fructose and glucose as seen above) can reach GI values of 87. Because it is a mix of two simple sugars it can raise blood sugar rapidly. Raw cane sugar consists of sucrose, a disaccharide (2 attached sugars as seen above) made up of glucose and fructose chemically bonded together. It has a GI of around 60, placing it in the moderate range. The reason it is lower than high-fructose corn syrup is that the chemical bond between the glucose and fructose must be enzymatically broken before raises in blood sugar levels. Thus raw cane sugar is far from alarming, especially at a four-gram dose.
Raw cane sugar also has additional nutritional benefits (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39147532/). Because it undergoes little processing, its nutritional profile closely reflects the sugarcane it comes from, and thus retains beneficial minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and manganese as well as phytochemicals. For example, 4 grams of raw cane sugar can provide as much as 12% of an adult male’s daily requirement. Phytochemicals provide significant health benefits, acting as antioxidants, reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and lowering risks for chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This is unlike refined can sugar (white table sugar) that is highly processed and contains only sucrose.
Health organizations largely agree that moderation is key when it comes to sugar. The American Diabetes Association and other experts recommend keeping added sugars below 10% of daily calories. For most people, that’s roughly 25-50 grams per day, depending on total caloric intake. Put simply, four grams of sugar in a functional, plant-based gummy designed to deliver real benefits is well within reasonable bounds and necessary to make the product work as intended.
Until next time. Cheers,
Dr. Andy