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.
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
Making simple changes to your food diet can help remedy... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More
Many of us sprinkle oregano on our pizza and stews... Read More
Just what is the "New Biology of Health?" And who's... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
East Meets WestAsian cultures have realized the medical benefits of... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
Recently I found the book : "Eating and health according... Read More
I'm sure by now you've heard all about the amazing... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
You've no doubt heard the saying, "You are what you... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet?... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
Cherries?A Supercharged FruitThe little red fruit that has been enjoyed... Read More
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes... Read More
Finding simple ways to reduce my waistline is always a... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
Nutrition |