The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean cover image

The Most Evil Molecule

The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean

00:00

The History of Blood Sugar

Sugar came from sugar cane, a plant native to New Guinea. People first crystallized sugar by extracting the sweet juice and evaporating off the liquid. Some people back then used sugar as a medicine because it caused physiological reactions like a racing heart. The Arabs introduced their love of sweets into other Muslim groups including the moors who conquered much of Spain and Portugal in the 700s.

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