| |
| |
|
Nutrition Information |
|
|
|
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 offructose 6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-biphosphate. You don't need to understand anything more about this reaction otherthan the fact that if fructose comes from a source other thanthe degradation of glucose, it blocks this step for glucoseuntil 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 Ihope will aid in explaining this. The analogy, however, is far from perfect. Whether we start out with separate glucose and fructose as inhigh fructose corn syrup or honey, or with fructose and glucose hooked together as in sucrose(common table sugar), makes nodifference. As soon as sucrose hits the bloodstream, it isimmediately broken down (hydrolyzed) to fructose and glucose. Freda Fructose gets married to Gary (Glucose) Sucrose. They livehappily on Sugar Lane. Both work in muscle and liver cellswhere they are metabolized usually into fat and slow the immune system to a crawl. They get up early in the morningand 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 isthe cause of so many of the lifestyle diseases we see todayor, all the backed up Gary Glucoses decide to cause theirown 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 diabetesmellitus. 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 theconcentration of glucose drops precipitously. The brainstarts to complain because it no longer has enough glucoseto function. If the blood sugar gets low enough, seriouscomplications can occur. Fructose and Glucose Together The combination of fructose and glucose should be avoided asmuch 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, anysweetener that has as it main ingredients, fructose and glucose. Other Sweeteners Brown Rice Syrup Brown rice syrup is roughly about 45% maltose (two glucose unitshooked together), 50% complex carbohydrates and 3% glucose. Noglucose and fructose together but still sweet and I have knownsome people who can even get hypoglycemic from it. Barley Malt Syrup Made from whole barley it is about 65% Maltose and 30% complexcarbohydrates. 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: Copyright John Mericle M.D. 2005 All Rights Reserved ************** 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. 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 onlinefollow the link below. I had luck just searching steviabut you could also search the product "Stevita." 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.
MORE RESOURCES:
Nutrition - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation. Sounds like nothing extraordinary, but indeed its benefits are measureless. Turn to Diet for Everyday Ailments The old clich that you are what you eat is quite true. Many people suffer from certain health conditions that even though may not be cured, can be controlled through your diet. How To Get Fit And Slash Your Health Insurance Costs Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of this article. I want you to get so healthy, you'll never need to make a health insurance claim. What is Organic Food? "Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed countries.In the U. Blood Type and Diet Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject that is come up a lot in the chat rooms lately, so as promised, here is more information about the topic.First of all there are two bibles on this subject written by Dr. 4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein Are you concerned about taking care of your body before and afterstrenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplementsthat contain additives and possible side effects?If you are interested in better health and improved physicalfitness you have surely heard that bodybuilders and otherathletes are turning to a simple, natural supplement called wheyprotein.WHY DO ATHLETES USE WHEY PROTEIN?Protein levels are depleted through exercise. Gift Basket Idea for Senior Citizens Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to health and quality of life with aging is widely recognized. Consuming fruits and vegetables can reduce an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease and many cancers. How to Help Your Picky Eater One of the most common questions I am asked is how to help a picky eater. If you're worried that your child won't get enough nutrients from a limited selection of foods, the good news is that because the American food supply is super-fortified, nutrient deficiencies are rare. Whats The Truth About Fat? When I hear the word fat I usually think of a roll of it hanging over a persons belt, or that guy Milty, from the movie Van Wilder, doing a belly flop off of the top diving platform with the words, "save the swim team", written across his backside. Sometimes, however, the picture of a big, juicy, double quarter pounder with cheese will slip its way into my mind. Not all Fats are Bad Fats have been unfairly lumped together as being all bad for too long. Fat doesn't necessarily cause disease, and can actually cause a role in its prevention. The Importance of Nutrition and Lifestyle Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to obtain optimal wellness. Most people roll their eyes or moan when confronted with these ideas, but, in reality, taking care of yourself is not as hard, time consuming, expensive, or dull as most would have you believe. Eating to Gain Mass This is usually the forgotten element of most mass programs. Food. Male Infertility and Glutathione Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a well-known fact that sperm counts have dropped by half in the last 50 years, and that modern men have 20 percent less semen volume than their fathers (BMJ, 1992, volume 305).A recent report from researchers in Aberdeen presented preliminary data that suggests the sperm concentration of the men seen in their clinic had declined by 29% over the past 14 years. Relieve PMS with the Food Diet Changes Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time or another. The symptoms are familiar: mood swings, cramping and bloating, trouble sleeping. How To Prevent Hypoglycemia Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both non-diabetics as well as diabetics. 7 Things To Your Health Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways you can measure and quantify symptoms and disease, the only way to be healthy is to add to your health. Eliminate Sugar and Lose Weight If you want to lose weight, there is one thing you ought to eliminate from your diet?sugar.Sugar is a villain in your quest to lose weight. Eat Right For A Healthy Life Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of our body. It is clearly mentioned in an Ayurvedic classic 'Charak Samhita' that consuming improper diet in improper way is the main cause of 'Disease'. Bathing Suit Season - A Nutritional Guide Spring is in the air and ? summer is around the corner! I know a lot of people have been contacting me about getting themselves and their bodies ready for da-da- DUM ?BATHING SUIT SEASON.For those of us who live in the more northern part of the country and did not go anywhere tropical during the last six months, this can be an intimidating time. The New Food Pyramid: Another Attempt At Providing Easy Answers The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992, just experienced a major overhaul. Why? Perhaps proper education about nutrition isn't as easy as picking out food from a colorful chart.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |