Fructose

Fructose is often called fruit sugar because of its presence in fruit. A monosaccharide, it is a single sugar molecule consisting of six carbon atoms, six oxygen atoms and 12 hydrogen atoms. It can be absorbed quite quickly into the blood stream from your small intestines. In addition to fruit and fruit juices, fructose may be present in your menu as honey or syrup or as the food additive high-fructose corn syrup (found in many beverages, salad dressings, and so on). Fructose absorption can be very rapid if the source is high-fructose corn syrup. Absorption from whole fruits is less rapid because of the presence of fiber and other phytonutrients in fruit. Nevertheless, everything in balance, which means that it is possible to over-dose on fruit. More tomorrow.