Limiting Fructose May Boost Weight Loss

Now by reading that title you may be thinking that this means you shouldn't eat fruit because it contains fructose.  It is titles like this that get the average consumer confused as to what is healthy and what they should and shouldn't be eating for weight loss. 

This was the title of a news release regarding a research study that was conducted on how fructose is metabolized comparied to glucose and sucrose.  The title doesn't accurately explain what the study was about.  So it is then up to various media personnel to write a story about it.  Well, sensationlism sells so the focus will be on all foods that contain fructose which includes fruit. 

What most of these media stories won't tell you is that this research study found that fructose is metabolized through a different pathway then glucose and sucrose and can convert fructose to fat faster than it can with glucose and sucrose.  The study didn't say that it always does this every time you eat fructose.  The study just found that if the end result was fat storage that the body converts fructose to fat easier and quicker and then it does with sucrose and glucose. 

Can you see by making a few changes to sentences or leaving out a few important points from a study that you can have a completely different interpretation and conclusion than what the research actually found.

This just happened with the low carb diet study that was released last week and the media ran with it and mislead consumers with all kinds of crazy titles and claims that were never mentioned in the actual study.

I assume the same thing may happen with this study.

The end result with this study was that you should refrain from eating processed foods that contain high fructose corn syrup because this study showed that you are increasing your chances that the sugars you eat from that processed food may convert to fat rather then being burned for energy. 

They also specifically mention that you should still continue to eat fruit, but just avoid processed foods that contain high fructose corn syrup.  The reason being is fruit also contains fiber which effects how the sugars get into the blood stream in the first place.  This is a whole other area of research that one could delve into.

Take home message for today….

Avoid processed foods that contain high fructose corn syrup, continue to eat your whole fruits and most importantly be careful what you read from mainstream media.  Research it further before coming to a conclusion.

Do me one big favor and leave a comment below if you hear or read any news reports discussing this topic and what their take was on it.  Also, if you have ever been confused by something or mislead like this because of what you read please leave a comment so others can be on the lookout for it as well.  The more we can educate others the better off we will all be. 

Yours in health!

Jayson Hunter RD, CSCS
Author of the Dress Size Reduction Diet