glocose

When carbs are eaten (both sugars AND starches)

They turn into Monosaccharides.

Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose are the 3 main Monosaccharides.

What about Sucrose?

Where it is in the blood? We eat alot of sucrose!

SUCROSE is made up of Glucose and Fructose.
See how that works?

So the food is eaten.

The Glucose, Fructose and Galactose are sent directly to the Liver

via the portal vein. That's what "portal" means. 
"Portal" has to do with the Liver (link)
In other words, these molecules go right to the blood stream.


The liver takes in most/some of the Monosaccharides.
First, it stores glycogen (link) in the liver. 
Then, some glycogen is stored in the muscles.
Then, if both of those are full - 
the excess is stored as Adipose Tissue.
As FAT! (link)

If there's extra Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose in the system (food)

And the liver can't uptake it all, and the rest goes to the intestines.

Where friendly flora have a hay-day! (link)


Fructose.
Fructose is - of course - from fruit.

And the molecule causes long-term problems

in the liver... in excess. Like high triglycerides.

And obesity.

They say to limit Fructose intake to 50 grams a day.

 Fructose does not affect blood sugar!
That is why people recommend eating fruits.
Blood Sugar readings are usually done via a Glucometer.
Which tests the amount of Glucose in the blood.
Glucose - not Fructose.
Fructose will not strongly affect glucose levels!
But it can sure keep your liver busy for while! (link)


When I see a Nurse recommend fruit for a Diabetic,
or a "Pre-Diabetic," or obese person, I come unwrapped!
Very sad. Berries have less Fructose. Try those!
The serving size of straw berries - is 6 berries, by the way.
Not a bowl full covered in sugar.
Or for fruit - ONE small apple. Or 15 grapes.
Fruit is not an All-You-Can-Gorge upon food.


Galactose.
Galactose  - is from Lactose - from Milk.
It can also be found in Beet Sugar.
And celery. But you'd have to eat a lot of it!
Galactose is another molecule that, in excess, 
can cause problems. Like aging. (link)
Most Galactose is easily converted to Glucose.
IF the person has the converting enzymes!
If not, they can be pretty sick! (link)
Lactose Intolerance is a different thing. (link)
But still causes problems for many people!


Glucose.
The biggie. Pun intended.
Glucose is the primary sugar of the body.
[That, and ketone bodies. (link)]
Glucose is also known as Dextrose.
"Dex" meaning "right" as in "right-handed."
The molecules of Dextrose spiral to the right.
While some others go to the left. 


Glucose is just a sugar molecule.
An abundant molecule.
Now comes the Pancreas. (link)
The very word "pan" means "all"
And "kreas" comes from "flesh."

The Pancreas is a lovely, happy little organ.
Who loves his job, but is no doubt over-worked.


When blood sugar is too low, the Pancreas
releases Glucagon (link)
Even excess protein can get converted to
glucose via gluconeogenisis. (link)
The word means " to make new glucose."


When blood sugar is too high, the Pancreas secretes Insulin (link)
Insulin is a hormone that brings the glucose into the cells.
Without Insulin, the Glucose can not cross into the cells
of the body.
A normal blood glucose (sugar) reading 
may - or may not - indicate a normal insulin response.
In people who are overweight,
it is thought that the response will not be so normal!


When Insulin is secreted, so is Amylin (link)
And Amylin has ties with Leptin (link)
And Leptin is all the "rage" in the diet world right now.
Leptin has direct and indirect ties with glucose
metabolism... and obesity.
Factors that affect Leptin, also affect inflammation.
Maybe that's why fish (N3) have a major role in
Leptin retraining diets. (link)


We all know what happens when Glucose is
eaten in excess. We either use the energy or store it.
Forget about calories and insulin and leptin
and everything else for a minute.
We either use it, or store it to use later.

Very few carbs are actually needed.

In fact - none are actually essential for human metabolism.

Cut back on fat - especially the fatty acids... 
That would be a mistake! Many vitamines are Fat Soluble.

And the Omega Series - absolutely essential!

To cut back on Protein in the diet - same thing.
Many essential Amino Acids there.


Hope this helps...
It's just a clarification of terms
 and in no way under the Sun
is the all-inclusive guide to anything!

watermelon watermelon

Watermelon, Watermelon,

Fructose Pie.

Kiss the Fatties,

And make them cry!

Now, I am no prude.

I eat a brownie or some jelly bean

from time to time.

Remember - I'm President of the D.A. club! (link)

But now, not so much.

Once I learned about Fructose, 

I kinda changed my dumb-ass ways!

If we really knew what certain food did to us

or for us - we would change.

Look at these stats on Watermelon.

LOOK at them!!

Almost 9 grams of Fructose.

And a good amount of Sucrose, as well.

This is for 1/16 of a melon.

You and me - we could eat - 2 of these portions?

3 of them? 4?

Maybe not at once, but throughout the day?

Portion size  - that's another story for another day.

5 serving of fruit.. it's not a crime when it's done right.

Like so many other things in life.

15 grapes.

1 small apple

1/2 cup of fruit juice

6 brussels sprouts

1 roma tomato

NOT unlimited fruits and veggies..

Not as much as you can cram in!

But - I digress!

Watermelon is a fave of many.

But it might not be a true friend.

The science tells the real story.

Why, then is watermelon "ok" 

on the Glycemic Index and Load?

And all that other so-called "medical" stuff?

Watermelon's stats -

Good for weight loss? Really?

Watermelon scores low on the Index,

Because the glycemic index works more with blood glucose

levels. Glucose levels. Not so much insulin levels.

So if your metabolism is out of whack from 

"Diabestiy" or worse, then these numbers 

aren't always your numbers. They are just a guide.

Most fruits an veggies have a smaller index,

where as bread and pastas have a higher one.

Fructose is also low on the Glycemic Index because it does not 

involve the standard sugars metabolism....

Fructose goes to the liver to be digested.

The Glycemic LOAD is just the Glycemic Index-

that has now been standardized.

Standardized to a portion size of 100 grams.

Which is carb has a higher impact on blood sugar - 

100 grams of lettuce?

Or 100 grams of ice cream?

You get it! Of course!

So yeah.

Watermelon has only 22 carbs.

BUT it's the quality of the carbs that count.

And since Fructose is not digested well,

it's not a good quality carb for our bodies!

Compare that to berries.

Take Blackberries, for example.

Dr Atkins loved berries.

Said they were a great little fruit.

Here's a cup of berries.

One Cup! More than you might eat 

in one sitting.

7 net carbs.

3 grams of Fructose.

Pretty low.

And berries are pretty amazing when you add some cream!

Compare the fructose level of berries to that of watermelon.

Watermelon has about 3 times the Fructose per serving!

Love the learning curve up in here! (link)

We are all learning together! 

Hope this helps!

wiki quickie on fructose

Wiki says it best! 

Almost Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Fructose, *But Were Afraid To Ask*

Metabolic syndrome

Excess fructose consumption has been hypothesized to be a cause of insulin resistance, obesity, elevated LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, leading to metabolic syndrome. Fructose consumption has been shown to be correlated with obesity, especially central obesity which is thought to be the most dangerous kind of obesity. A study in mice showed that a high fructose intake increases adiposity.

Although all simple sugars have nearly identical chemical formulae, each has distinct chemical properties. 

One study concluded that fructose "produced significantly higher fasting plasma triacylglycerol values than did the glucose diet in men..."

Fructose is a reducing sugar, as are all monosaccharides. The spontaneous chemical reaction of simple sugar molecules binding to proteins, known as glycation, is thought to be a significant cause of damage in diabetics. Fructose appears to be equivalent to glucose in this regard and so does not seem to be a better answer for diabetes for this reason alone, save for the smaller quantities required to achieve equivalent sweetness in some foods. This may be an important contribution to senescence (aging) and many age-related chronic diseases.

Liver disease

"The medical profession thinks fructose is better for diabetics than sugar," says Meira Field, PhD, a research chemist at United States Department of Agriculture, "but every cell in the body can metabolize glucose. However, all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. The livers of the rats on the high fructose diet looked like the livers of alcoholics, plugged with fat and cirrhotic." Fructose is almost entirely metabolized in the liver.

Excessive fructose consumption is also believed to contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

[edit]

Gout

It has been suggested in a recent British Medical Journal study that high consumption of fructose is linked to gout. Cases of gout have risen in recent years, despite commonly being thought of as a Victorian disease, and it is suspected that the fructose found in soft drinks (e.g., carbonated beverages) and other sweetened drinks is the reason for this.

In order for the liver to process fructose, it must be phosphorylated by removal of phosphates from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The ATP gets converted toadenosine monophosphate (AMP), then to inositol monophosphate (IMP), and finally to uric acid, the agent in gout.

This is really just a reference in case anyone is interested!

Thanks for reading! 

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging!

Anne H

fructose and you

This info is for us to learn and examine
the Fructose content of some common foods.
Keep in mind that 1 gram is 1,000 mg.
And 50 grams is alot!! (link)
Some are now saying that
Fructose is the hidden triglyceride maker!
We are all learning together!

First some common Fruits 

Apple - one large

Banana - one large

Brown Sugar - one cup

Cherries - one cup

Dates - one little ounce

Seems almost LoCarb,

till you check the fructose!

Grapes - one cup

About 1 carb per grape!

Mango - one

Orange Juice - one glass

That's why they give it after you donate blood!

Raisins - raisin' your blood sugar!

One small kid sized box

Watermelon

1/16 of a melon... one wedge

............................................................................................

 And now, some veggies...

Some of which are really fruits - in disguise!
A fruit, remember, has seeds.
Mostly we think of fruits as being sweet.
Some of these have seeds - peppers for example.


And some are lower carb choices.

Is this what they call "safe" starches?

Or are they just called "veggies?"

Avocado - one large

Sweet potato - one large

White potato - one large

Red Peppers - one cup

Lettuce  - one cup

Onion - one ounce

Butternut Squash - one cup

Not sure why I don't have this more often!

...........................................................................................

And then, some berries.

Just what the good Dr Atkins ordered.

Strawberry - one cup

Blackberries - one cup

More bang for your buck!

Blueberries - one cup

Getting up there 

................................................................................................

But what about the "natural sweeteners?"

Honey - one ounce 

Or HUNNY if you are a bear.

That's a hefty Fructose load

day in and day out. 

Agave nectar - one ounce

Many people think this is a safe sub!

And can't figure out why all their hard work

was sabotaged - by what -- they never knew!

Maple syrup

this is one cup - so divide by what, half?

*wink*

Molasses - 1 ounce

Hope this helps!

All this info came from 

Nutrition Data .com