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10/27/09 12:38 PM

"At my work the debate rages over HFCS. How does the fructose differ between that found naturally in fruit vs. HFCS and how does it impact diabetes?"
Asked By: jcrick  
Category: Food and Nutrition

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Expert Answers (1)

10/30/09 02:06 PM

Hello JCrick;
Fructose occurs naturally in fruit, or crystalline fructose- from corn starch. Fructose, a simple 6 carbon sugar, and 1 gram provides 4 calories, and when in fruit, (generally 1 small apple~3x3"), provides 15 grams of carbohydrate. The crystalline forms of fructose are made from cornstarch, looks and taste much like sucrose (2 carbon sugar, glucose+fructose-table granulated sugar). HFCS is a combination of fructose (simple sugar) and dextrose (an additional sugar from corn). HFCS is 1.5 times sweeter than table sugar, (table sugar is the gold standard), and added to a great many foods.

Carbohydrate foods,( simple or complex in nature), complex composed of multiple linkages of sugars, require the digestive process's to break these linkages into their respective simplest form, (your brain and heart will only use the fuel of glucose). The final end-products of digestion carbohydrates are: glucose, galactose, and fructose. Once absorbed, glucose routed to their needed area, all coordinated by your liver. The digestive process is very sophisticated, the simple sugars, fructose in fruits,HFCS, can be absorbed just as they are. Multi-linked sugars: sucrose, lactose, and maltose require digestive enzymes to break down and extract their food value.

Fructose produces a smaller rise in blood glucose than equal amount of other carbohydrates. The early stages of fructose metabolism do not require insulin to open the cell. Under normal conditions, fructose is slowly absorbed, and glucose excursions post meal are generally slower, under insulin-deficient conditions-uncontrolled diabetes, fructose stimulates liver glucose production. A meal should contain a mix of carbohydrates, the blood glucose reading 2 hours after the meal reflect the carb content, next 2 hrs- protein and then fat content, respectively.
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    • Answered By: Susan Throop
    Accreditations: RD, CDE, MA
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    Community Answers (1)

    10/29/09 11:58 AM

    HFCS is a highly refined sweetener from corn. The problem is its refined which means it breaks down rapidly in the system, it is the rush of sugar that gets us. Fruit breaks down slower and we have the fiber of the food that retards the flow of glucose so it doesnt impact as fast. I think this hidden additive has added the the rapid growth of diabetes and obestity in America and around the world.
    Answered By: furball64801
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    SourcesShow



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