Fructose

FRUCTOSE

History and composition

Fructose is a monosaccharide found in plants such as sugar cane, sugar beets, and corn, so it is known as FRUIT SUGAR. It is absorbed into the bloodstream during digestion and also a member of the 3 dietary monosaccharide.

It was said to be discovered in 1847 by a chemist named AP DUBRUNFAUNT ( a French chemist). The following are its various forms:

1. Crystalline fructose: this is also a monosaccharide.

2. High-fructose corn syrup : Also a monosaccharide but with a mixture of both glucose and fructose.

3. Sucrose: It’s one molecule of glucose linked to a molecule of fructose.

SAFETY AND FRUCTOSE

It has been considered to be a better replacement for sugar because of it inability to have adverse effect on the output of insulin and or blood sugar values. Though, still a big concern when it comes to its role in obesity in humans.

In 1983, it was declared as the safest of all sweeteners by the U.S Food and Drug administration. But none the less, it has been discovered to rapidly induce insulin resistance, postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, and blood pressure in humans more than or glucose does.

FRUCTOSE AND OBESITY

Fructose has be linked to obesity due to its higher intake and the inability of consumers to participate in active physical exercise. Large intake of calories gets to store up in various art of the body (liver, muscles, etc) and if not used or excreted, tends to build up and recent surveys shows that a high-fructose intake has been shown to induce certain features of the metabolic syndrome pretty rapidly in people, speeding up the process for people to become obese.

Fructose is found in nearly every product that has to do with sugar. E.g pastries, soda, jellies, also used to substitute table sugar. Most every of our daily intake has a form of Fructose in it and the only way out is frequent physical activity in order to avoid being obese.