Fructose, one of the most popular sugar substitutes, has both harmful and beneficial properties. For diabetics who cannot eat foods with glucose, this is a real salvation - fructose is absorbed into the bloodstream without the participation of insulin. On the other hand, abuse of this product can cause problems with excess weight and various diseases.
Fructose is one of the types of natural sugars, which, with a caloric content equal to sugar, is several times sweeter than it. Naturally, this substance is found in many sweet fruits, berries and even vegetables, and also makes up about half the content of honey. Fructose is absorbed by the human body without the participation of insulin, so it raises blood sugar levels three times slower.
Benefits of fructose
The benefits of fructose are obvious for people with diabetes. This disease makes it impossible to assimilate the glucose found in most sugary foods, as insulin production is reduced. And insulin is not required for the absorption of fructose, so diabetics can afford some sweets, confectionery, as well as fruits and berries.
Although a large amount of products with fructose in the composition also leads to an increase in blood sugar, therefore, diabetic patients need to monitor their consumption.
Fruit sugar has a high nutritional value and fills the body with energy faster than traditional sugar. Honey and other foods containing this substance provide the brain and other internal organs with nutrients much better than chocolate or regular sweets.
Fructose has tonic properties, it allows the body to quickly recover from severe stress or illness. Therefore, it is useful for athletes to add foods with this sugar substitute to their diet after grueling workouts.
Fructose is beneficial in that it accelerates the breakdown of alcohol in human blood. This substance has the ability to absorb moisture, as a result, the shelf life of food increases. Unlike sugar, it enhances the flavor and aroma of the dish, not just makes it sweet.
On the other hand, fructose yeast dough rises much more slowly, and the baked goods are less fluffy.
Harm to fructose
Fructose is rapidly absorbed by the body, almost completely absorbed by the liver cells. There, this substance is transformed into free fatty acids, in a word, it turns into ordinary fat, which, with excessive consumption of sweets, begins to accumulate. As a result, those people who abuse this sugar substitute become obese. Fructose is a dietary supplement, not a food product, it must be treated like a spice and added in small quantities, otherwise it will become harmful. Many people who are accustomed to sugar forget that the substance is much sweeter and continue to put two tablespoons of the sweetener in tea or large amounts in baked goods, as a result, blood sugar levels rise and the amount of subcutaneous fat increases.
