Fructose is a type of sugar naturally present in fruits and honey, but it has also been added artificially by the industry in foods such as cookies, powdered juices, ready-made pasta, sauces, soft drinks and sweets.
Despite being used by the industry as a sweetener to replace common sugar, fructose has been linked to increased health problems like obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Why is fructose fattening and harmful?
The excess fructose found in processed foods is bad for the body and can cause weight gain because it is found in large quantities and in very calorie foods, rich in sugar. In addition, industrialized fructose can cause:
- Increased triglycerides; Increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems; Increased bad cholesterol; Increased risk of developing diabetes; Increased uric acid in the blood.
These problems occur due to the consumption of fructose, fructose syrup and corn syrup, ingredients present in processed foods. To get rid of addiction to sweet foods, see 3 steps to reduce your sugar consumption.
Is fruit fructose bad for you?
Despite being rich in fructose, fruits are not harmful to health because they contain low concentrations of this sugar and are rich in fiber, which helps to control the weight gain effect that sugar causes. In addition, they are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help to regulate metabolism and avoid the bad effects that sugar can cause.
Thus, it is important to consume the fruits always with peel and bagasse, also preferring the consumption of natural juices without added sugar and without straining, so that the fibers are not lost.
Fructose-rich foods
Fructose is naturally present in foods such as fruits, peas, beans, sweet potatoes, beets and carrots, causing no health problems.
However, industrialized foods rich in fructose should be avoided, the main ones being: soft drinks, canned or powdered juices, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, industrialized sauces, caramel, artificial honey, chocolates, cakes, puddings, fast food, some types of bread, sausage and ham.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the labels and avoid excessive consumption of foods that contain fructose, fructose syrup or corn syrup in their composition. To learn how to read labels the right way and not fooled by the industry, watch the following video:
