|
WHAT IS FRUCTOSE?
Fructose is the natural sugar found in fruits. It is 1 simple monosaccharide
sugar - the smallest units which cannot be broken down - when monosaccarides are
combined they form more complex molecules such as sucrose and lactose.. It is
sweeter than sucrose (regular table sugar) but has a lower glycemic index.
Therefore eating fructose would not give as dramatic a rise in blood sugar as
you would get from eating glucose (dextrose). Fructose is metabolized in the
liver and can be used effectively to replenish liver glycogen stores after such
things as zero carb dieting or very glycogen burning intense long duration
exercise. It can also be used effectively first thing in the morning to
replenish liver glycogen after sleep. However as it bypasses the insulin chain
fructose can very readily and easily increase blood fats and be stored virtually
instantly as triglyceride. However for this reason it can often be used by
diabetics as a sugar substitute.
Fructose can often be found in many nutrition supplements as part of meal
replacements, post workout energy recovery drinks etc.
FRUCTOSE AND FRUIT
Fruits contain fructose, which is technically low glycemic and can be
consumed occasionally, but many fruits such as citrus fruits contain high levels
of simple sugars which cause rapid releases of insulin and promote fat storage.
When consuming fruit, limit the intake to just a few times a day and try and
stick to things like apples and pears with the fibrous skin on, this slows
digestion and release of the carbohydrate into the system.
There are 4 calories in every 1g of Fructose.
|