bull69
12-08-2002, 04:47 PM
If not can someone tell me the difference and are there any fruits out there without any sugar?
thanks
thanks
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arkie6
12-09-2002, 12:12 AM
The sugar found in fruit is a monosaccharid known as fructose. Sucrose, or more commonly known as table sugar, is a disaccharide consisting of one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose. So, while they are different, they do share some similiarities.
Many things including soft drinks are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup today since fructose is sweeter tasting than sucrose and corn syrup is cheaper to manufacture than sucrose from sugar cane or beets. Both sucrose and fructose aren't healthy in the quantities that most people consume them today.
Fruits that are lower in sugar are things like strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, melons, and avacados.
Alan
Many things including soft drinks are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup today since fructose is sweeter tasting than sucrose and corn syrup is cheaper to manufacture than sucrose from sugar cane or beets. Both sucrose and fructose aren't healthy in the quantities that most people consume them today.
Fruits that are lower in sugar are things like strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, melons, and avacados.
Alan
zip2play
12-20-2002, 09:25 AM
bull,
What Arkie said plus the fact that lots of fruit have sugar available as glucose as well. In fact glucose is also know as "grape sugar."
Sucrose is a double sugar made from a molecule each of glucose+fructose.
What Arkie said plus the fact that lots of fruit have sugar available as glucose as well. In fact glucose is also know as "grape sugar."
Sucrose is a double sugar made from a molecule each of glucose+fructose.
gymrat7676
12-25-2002, 07:39 PM
so does it affect the body in the same way?
rhody
12-25-2002, 09:56 PM
It's been years since I have read up about natural fruit sugars, but what I recall is that natural fruit sugars are assimiliated much easier by the body. I remember these natural sugars being healthier for consumption. That's why I use fruits to sweeten up my cereals rather than man-made sugars or honey.
Maybe one of the others could respond to this more in detail.... I'm sure that this could be found on the internet.
Maybe one of the others could respond to this more in detail.... I'm sure that this could be found on the internet.
rhody
12-25-2002, 10:21 PM
Well, you got me curious....
I looked up a few articles on the net. One article said that fruit fructose (in natural fruit) is the gentlest for the body, requiring the least amount of insulin. This fruit fructose locked in the fibers of the fruit, is slow releasing, and is combined with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and water-soluble proteins.
I haven't researched this very much, but preliminary data confirmed what I had cataloged in my mind, that natural fruits to be used as sweetners are best.
I don't feel man-made (processed) fructose is appropriate, but natural fruit sugars are completely different. They are healthy for you. Fresh raw fruit is best, rather than cooked or dried fruit.
I looked up a few articles on the net. One article said that fruit fructose (in natural fruit) is the gentlest for the body, requiring the least amount of insulin. This fruit fructose locked in the fibers of the fruit, is slow releasing, and is combined with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and water-soluble proteins.
I haven't researched this very much, but preliminary data confirmed what I had cataloged in my mind, that natural fruits to be used as sweetners are best.
I don't feel man-made (processed) fructose is appropriate, but natural fruit sugars are completely different. They are healthy for you. Fresh raw fruit is best, rather than cooked or dried fruit.
janedoe1301
12-25-2002, 11:14 PM
Hey Rhody, the sugar in honey is fructose, so it's ok to use it as a "natural" sweetener.
As to the original question, like others have said, in some cases, fructose or glucose are added to foods, but they also occur naturally in foods. The health issue is in moderating the amount of foods with ADDED sugar, regardless of what form it comes in. Sugar in your daily diet in naturally occurring forms in fruits, vegetables, milk/plain yogurt, etc. is ok. But excess sugar that has been added to foods for sweetness/taste contributes to dental problems, increase in body fat (excessive calories causes your body to convert the extra sugar to fat for storage as future energy fuel), and weakened immune function.
As to the original question, like others have said, in some cases, fructose or glucose are added to foods, but they also occur naturally in foods. The health issue is in moderating the amount of foods with ADDED sugar, regardless of what form it comes in. Sugar in your daily diet in naturally occurring forms in fruits, vegetables, milk/plain yogurt, etc. is ok. But excess sugar that has been added to foods for sweetness/taste contributes to dental problems, increase in body fat (excessive calories causes your body to convert the extra sugar to fat for storage as future energy fuel), and weakened immune function.
rhody
12-25-2002, 11:45 PM
It's OK to use honey or sugar, but I avoid all such things. Sugar is an interesting topic. There's some people including dieticians that say it's OK. In my viewpoint, I think the opposite. I avoid all processed sugars and foods, except only on occasion.
Again, it's been many years since I had read up about honey, but what I recall is that honey and table sugar are similar. I avoid honey for that reason. The natural honey at the bottom of the bee hive, although, can be very rich in bee pollen. The bee pollen is very nutritious. Years ago, I consumed bee pollen almost every day.
I just read on the internet that honey contains the same basic sugar units as table sugar, both containing glucose and fructose. In table sugar these two sugars are combined, but in honey they are individual units. They apparently get metabolized the same in the body.
There are many reasons I avoid these types of sugars; one of them is that they are "empty calories". They provide calories, with little or no nutrients. I don't think they're unsafe in small amounts, but something to avoid.
A topic like this could go on "forever", because there is somewhat a controversy on the "safety" or health in using processed sugars. Each individual can have their own case to state about this.
Again, it's been many years since I had read up about honey, but what I recall is that honey and table sugar are similar. I avoid honey for that reason. The natural honey at the bottom of the bee hive, although, can be very rich in bee pollen. The bee pollen is very nutritious. Years ago, I consumed bee pollen almost every day.
I just read on the internet that honey contains the same basic sugar units as table sugar, both containing glucose and fructose. In table sugar these two sugars are combined, but in honey they are individual units. They apparently get metabolized the same in the body.
There are many reasons I avoid these types of sugars; one of them is that they are "empty calories". They provide calories, with little or no nutrients. I don't think they're unsafe in small amounts, but something to avoid.
A topic like this could go on "forever", because there is somewhat a controversy on the "safety" or health in using processed sugars. Each individual can have their own case to state about this.