Several recent studies have shown that fructose is processed differently in the body than the far more common sugar, glucose (3,4). Glucose causes the pancreas to release insulin which drives sugar from the bloodstream into cells. Glucose causes fat cells to release leptin that makes you feel full so you eat less. Glucose prevents the stomach from releasing ghrelin that makes you hungry. On the other hand, fructose does not cause fat cells to release leptin and does not suppress ghrelin. This means that fructose increases hunger to make you eat more. Furthermore, the liver converts fructose far more readily to a body fat called triglyceride, than it does with glucose. High triglyceride levels raise blood levels of the bad LDL cholesterol and lower blood levels of the good HDL cholesterol, which increases heart attack risk.
Recent data shows that large amounts of fructose cause insulin resistance, impair glucose tolerance, produce high levels of insulin, raise triglycerides, and cause high blood pressure in animals. Not all this data have been replicated in humans, but there is every reason to believe that large amounts of fructose will have the same adverse effects. High-fructose corn syrup is found in almost all soft drinks and fruit beverages and a wide variety of processed foods; check the list of ingredients in the foods you buy.
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND OBESITY
This illuminating article details the biological reasons HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) causes health problems when substituted for table sugar (sucrose) in manufactured foods, as is commonly done today.
Sucrose must be broken down by the body into glucose and fructose in order to be used by the body. HFCS by contrast, has a much higher proportion of fructose. As a result of HFCS use fructose consumption has increased by 26% in the last 30 years.
Glucose and fructose are both used for energy and fat production in the liver. The glucose breakdown pathway is turned off then there is an accumulation of energy and fat, but there is no such feedback mechanism in the case of fructose.
Fructose, unlike glucose, does not effectively shut down the hunger signal, so an individual will not feel sated as easily. This makes it tempting for consumers to over-eat, and benefits fast food producers.
Fructose does not stimulate insulin release as well as glucose and contributes to insulin resistance, which can result in diabetes.
Newsvine - Why High Fructose Corn Syrup is terribly bad for you
, now this talks about fructose though, which is found in fruits correct? I'm sure I can still eat a few fruits though a day.