Fructose and Obesity: How Does Consuming Fructose Cause Obesity?

Fructose is a natural sugar that is found in most sweetened products in the grocery store, as well as in naturally sweet foods such as fruit. Fructose also comes in the form of "High-Fructose Corn Syrup" which is commonly found in soft drinks and some juices. Fructose is linked to obesity in many ways. Eating sugar, whether it's in the form of fructose, dextrose or sucrose, causes obesity. This is because sugar processes through the body at a faster rate than the body can use it, therefore causing the body to store the sugar away as fat as a form of stored energy. The odds are you are familiar with fructose but have not heard of dextrose or sucrose. This is because fructose is the most commonly used sugar in processed foods, but any sugar source will cause obesity. So, instead of searching for fructose under the "ingredients" section of the food label, simply consider if the food you are thinking about eating is sweet or not. Cutting back on sweets will cut back on sugar and keep you from becoming obese.

Pros and Cons of Eating Fructose

Fructose, along with all the other types of sugars, is not as fulfilling to eat. This is because the sugar rushes through your system very fast instead of staying with you to satisfy your hunger. This is why sugary foods are not considered "real" food. Fats and proteins take longer to digest and convert to energy allowing you to go longer in the day without getting hungry, while consuming sugar is like throwing calories down a bottomless pit. Although, eating fructose before playing a sport can be beneficial because you will receive instant energy that you will be able to utilize.

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity is a leading cause of diabetes, which is directly linked to sugar intake. Eating too much sugar leads to the production of triglycerides (fat in the blood) and triglycerides clog the other cells in the body keeping insulin from reaching the cells.

What You Can Do

Eating less sugary foods and exercising is the best way to fight obesity. This is because less sugar means less instant fat storage and more exercise means more calories burned. Changing your lifestyle to fight obesity is tough but well worth it. Obesity is not attractive, makes it harder to perform simple tasks and shortens your life. So, the biggest investment you can make is to keep yourself from becoming obese. Hiring a personal trainer is the best way to insure you get your workouts. At home personal trainers will come to your door to make sure you get a workout and won't listen to any excuses. Staying fit is a fight for your life and having someone to ensure you succeed is priceless.

Sources:

Fructose.org

"Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity" The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

"Effects of Fructose on Diabetes," Fructose.biz

Jessica Fraser, "Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and type II diabetes , " Natural News