Sorting Out Sweeteners: Agave, Corn Syrup, Sugar, and More

As Kathleen J Melanson et al state in their December 2008 article, " although Fructose is present in fruit, honey, and some other carbohydrate sources, the quantities consumed from these sources are not as large as is found in foods and beverages sweetened by HFCS".

In contrast, the most common sugar in nature is Glucose. Glucose comes in the form of starch (in plants) and glycogen (in animals). Glucose and Fructose have inherent differences in their chemical properties. Within the stomach, they use different transport channels to enter the body. Glucose can activate insulin release, but fructose can't. Also, Fructose can bypass a critical step in fat synthesis that Glucose cannot.

The current research also suggests Fructose plays a much more noxious role than was previously assumed. For example, many studies have demonstrated that Fructose effectively inhibits the feeling of fullness while eating. "Stimulation of the AMPK/malonyl-CoA signaling pathway from fructose leads to more eating, while glucose intake leads to less eating, as glucose levels rise in the brain" states Kathleen Blanchard RN reflecting on recent research out of Johns Hopkins University.

Increased Fructose consumption has also been shown to decrease Leptin concentrations. Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite throughout the day and is associated with energy expenditure. Therefore, as Kimber L Stanhope and Peter J Havel suggest prolonged Fructose consumption could be "contributing to weight gain and obesity as a result of reduced insulin and leptin signaling in the brain".

As George A. Bray, MD, stated, "it is interesting to note that nature did not select fructose to circulate in the blood." "Human milk has essentially no fructose, nor do the foods that comprise most traditional diets."

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mentalpestilence of CA 11:20AM April 15, 2009