Fructose Short-Circuits Glycolysis

First some terminology.

Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs naturally in fruit, does not cause as much insulin to be secreted as glucose and tastes sweeter than glucose.

Glucose ... a six carbon sugar that is the breakdown product of glycogen(a polymer of glucose, multiple glucose units hooked together) that occurs naturally in potatoes and grains.

Glycogen ... multiple units of glucose hooked together (a polymer). What is typically called "complex carbohydrate" today.

Glycolysis ... derived from the Greek stem glyk- "sweet" and lysis meaning dissolution. The metabolic pathway for the initial utilization of glucose.

Phosphofructokinase ... the enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of fructose 6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-biphosphate. You don't need to understand anything more about this reaction other than the fact that if fructose comes from a source other than the degradation of glucose, it blocks this step for glucose until all the non-glucose derived fructose has been metabolized.

Glucose and Fructose Are Both Metabolized via Gylcolysis

Both fructose and glucose are metabolized via glycolysis. Both end up at some point as three carbon fragments. In order for glucose to be broken down into three carbon fragments it must first be metabolized to a five carbon sugar, actually fructose. This is where the trouble starts, since fructose is already a five carbon sugar. The following analogy I hope will aid in explaining this. The analogy, however, is far from perfect.

Whether we start out with separate glucose and fructose as in high fructose corn syrup or honey, or with fructose and glucose hooked together as in sucrose(common table sugar), makes no difference. As soon as sucrose hits the bloodstream, it is immediately broken down (hydrolyzed) to fructose and glucose.

Freda Fructose gets married to Gary (Glucose) Sucrose. They live happily on Sugar Lane. Both work in muscle and liver cells where they are metabolized usually into fat and slow the immune system to a crawl. They get up early in the morning and both have to get on the Glycolysis Road to get to work. Gary (Glucose) is one carbon atom heavier than Freda Fructose and because of that, he cannot cross the river on one of the lighter and faster bridges on their way to work. Freda Fructose however, being lighter, has no problem crossing the faster bridge and making the short-cut to the Glycolysis Road. Gary Glucose, however, has to get on the road well above the short-cut, since he is too heavy to take the lighter bridge short-cut.

The Phosphofructokinase Intersection

As usual Freda Fructose gets to the Phosphofructokinase intersection well before Gary Glucose. By the time Gary Glucose gets to the intersection, the traffic directing policeman is once again allowing all the Freda Fructoses to make the turn onto Glycolysis Road while, all the Gary Glucoses can do is sit in traffic and wait. Once again, Gary, and all the other Glucoses on their way to work, must sit and wait for all the Freda Fructoses to get on Glycolysis Road before they can continue.

LA Traffic Control

Traffic control sees all these Glucoses sitting stuck in traffic, just like traffic backs up everyday in LA. It reacts by injecting a lot of green lights (insulin) into the pathway for the Glucoses to get to work. Finally, all the Fructoses pass and now because there are too many green lights, all the Glucoses pass quickly. All of the sudden there are no Glucoses to be found on the Glycolysis Road. All the cells along the way that used to be able to snag some Glucose can't because there isn't any. Whether it is the excessive insulin that is the cause of so many of the lifestyle diseases we see today or, all the backed up Gary Glucoses decide to cause their own damage to the arteries they are in, I don't know. It is however, clearly established that the ingestion of sucrose (fructose and glucose) is related to many of our lifestyle diseases today including the extensive damage to the vascular system that occurs with adult onset diabetes mellitus. I know, my damaged arteries are up on this site.

Hypoglycemia

Now you begin to feel lightheaded, dizzy and a bit disoriented. Traffic control has injected too many green lights and the concentration of glucose drops precipitously. The brain starts to complain because it no longer has enough glucose to function. If the blood sugar gets low enough, serious complications can occur.

Fructose and Glucose Together

The combination of fructose and glucose should be avoided as much as possible. When you eat your fruit, try to allow at least an hour or preferably two, before eating potatoes, whole grains or rice. Also avoid as much as you can sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, honey and maple syrup or, any sweetener that has as it main ingredients, fructose and glucose.

Other Sweeteners

Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is roughly about 45% maltose (two glucose units hooked together), 50% complex carbohydrates and 3% glucose. No glucose and fructose together but still sweet and I have known some people who can even get hypoglycemic from it.

Barley Malt Syrup

Made from whole barley it is about 65% Maltose and 30% complex carbohydrates.

Fruit Concentrates

These are usually combinations of glucose, fructose and sucrose and should be avoided.

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is about 65% sucrose and should be avoided.

Today's Health Tip:

If you want sweet, you are safest with stevia. Next would be sweeteners derived from rice and barley. Sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, maple syrup and fruit juice concentrates should be avoided.

Reference:
Stryer Biochemistry Fourth Edition

Copyright John Mericle M.D. 2005 All Rights Reserved

**************
To really get off of sweets and "deprogram a sugar-coated palate," the MericleDiet is hard to beat. Generous servings of organic complex carbohydrates will keep you and your brain happy. To visit the MericleDiet follow the link below.
http://www.drmericle.com
**************

One of our readers Wendy in the UK writes:

Just to let you know that according to the website below that takes you to Carol Bond Health Foods it is spelt Stevita. I couldn't find it anywhere on the site and through asking the chat section it was spelt differently. Thought you would like to know so that you can let the other newsletter recipients know.
Regards...
Wendy

PS Really enjoy the newsletter. Find it very informing so thank you. Gave up drinking milk last year after reading your article! Feel much healthier as a result.
**************

To take Stevia for a test drive or purchase some online follow the link below. I had luck just searching stevia but you could also search the product "Stevita."
http://www.drmericle.com
Thanks for your time.

DrMericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training in organic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.

no-contract cleaning service Morton Grove ..
In The News:

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.
Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.
Chrome faces its sixth zero-day attack in 2025 as Google patches critical V8 engine flaw CVE-2025-10585 discovered by Threat Analysis Group.
The Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton features 12 terrain modes and carbon fiber construction to enhance hiking, cycling and outdoor adventures.
Personal data from public records and data brokers helps scammers create tailored scam stories, making their calls and emails more believable to potential victims.
Uber Eats partners with drone delivery startup Flytrex to test autonomous food delivery services in U.S. markets, marking the company's first investment in drone technology.
OpenAI announces 120-day plan to strengthen ChatGPT safeguards for teens, including parental controls and expert council on AI wellbeing.
Spam emails can help improve security — if reported correctly. Learn how to report spam across major email services and get key tips to protect your inbox and personal data.
Harvard researcher Avi Loeb says comet 3I/ATLAS weighs 33 billion tons and spans 3.1 miles, making it far larger than previous interstellar visitors.
The Glassboro Public School District in New Jersey has partnered with ZeroEyes and InformaCast to detect visible firearms and alert staff and law enforcement within seconds.
Hackers use fake Google search results to trick users into downloading lookalike apps laced with malware that have been pushed to the top.
Generative A.I. has lowered barriers for sophisticated cyberattacks as hackers exploit ChatGPT and other tools to forge documents and identities.
IOS 26's new features include bigger lock screen clocks, dirty lens alerts, and improved spam detection for iPhones.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Sophisticated phishing scams now exploit Apple's iCloud Calendar invite system to bypass spam filters and trick users into calling fake support numbers.
Complete guide to medication tracking apps for iPhone and Android users, featuring built-in Health apps, MediSafe, MyTherapy, and smart pill dispensers.
Alef Aeronautics plans to begin production of its electric flying car Model A by late 2025, following FAA approval for limited testing at five airport locations.
Five common overpayment scams use fake checks and third-party payment requests to steal money from unsuspecting victims across various scenarios.
The Robeta Ananya luxury camper van features a full living room, ceiling bed, washer-dryer, and complete kitchen starting at $295,000 for the limited Founders' Edition.
Scammers exploit retirees' trust and assets through fake debt collection calls, but proper verification methods and reporting can stop these fraudulent schemes.
Social media scams are rising as fraudsters create fake accounts and buy verification badges to deceive users, but these simple safety steps can protect you.
The new groundbreaking Paris Solar-Battery Park in Wisconsin provides renewable energy day and night by capturing excess energy from its solar panels.
Travelers face increased risks from fake Wi-Fi networks at airports and on flights as attackers exploit growing reliance on in-flight internet for entertainment and services.
Older Android phones, tablets and car systems will lose access to new Waze features as the app drops support for Android versions below 10.
Research shows iPhone owners' overconfidence in Apple security makes them easier targets for cybercriminals compared to Android users who take more precautions.

Calcium Absorption and Information

Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More

The Benefits of Healthy Eating

These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More

Are You Lactose Intolerant?

Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based... Read More

Simple Easy Health and Home Fixes From The Days Gone By

How did we cure ourselves of many aches pains and... Read More

An Open Letter to Mankind

In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More

Dont Allow Your Food To Control You

Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More

Must Have List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More

Unhealthy Foods: How To Become Disgusted By Junk Foods That Make You Fat

With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More

Fish Oil

The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More

The Non-Diet Diet

Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More

Protein: Common or Missing Link?

Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More

Grains That Cause Illness

Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More

Whats Missing Could Be Making You Sick

Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More

Discover How to Grow Your Own Source of Vitamins, Fiber, Proteins, and More

Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More

The Portfolio Diet: The Solution to Heart Disease

What if there was a combination of foods that were... Read More

Constipation

Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More

Fluoride: A Plot to Dull the American Mind

During the Second World War, the Germans used fluoride as... Read More

Dietary Sources of Glutathione

DIETARY SOURCES OF GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and... Read More

Good Fats Prevent Chronic Disease

Essential fatty acids are the number one recommendation for anyone... Read More

Eating Healthy in a Time-Starved World

Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life... Read More

Healthy Eating Tips for Healthy Living

Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More

The Worshipful Company of Bakers

Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More

Learn About Diet Nutrition Physique

Diet nutrition physiqueToday, learning about diet nutrition physique isn't all... Read More

Nutrition Is Not Common Sense

I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More

Balanced Diet: Know More on Healthy and Nutritional Balanced Diet!

In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More

luxury cleaning services Des Plaines ..