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 biscuits, powdered juices, ready-made pasta, sauces, soft drinks and sweets.
Although it has been 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 Fructose Can Be Dangerous
The excess of fructose found in industrialized foods is bad for the body and can lead to problems such as:
- Excess weight and obesity, because it is present in large amounts in very high calorie foods;
- 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 consumption of fructose, fructose syrup and corn syrup, ingredients present in industrialized foods. To get rid of addictions to sweet foods, see 3 steps to reduce sugar consumption.
Fruit fructose does not hurt
Although rich in fructose, fruits do not pose health hazards because they contain low concentrations of this sugar and are high in fiber, which helps control the weight gain effect that sugar causes. In addition, they are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help regulate metabolism and avoid the bad effects that sugar can cause.
Thus, it is important to consume the fruits always with bark and bagasse, preferring also the consumption of natural juices without addition of sugar and without coar, so that the fibers are not lost.
Foods rich in fructose
Fructose is present naturally in foods like 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, box or powdered juices, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, industrialized sauces, caramel, artificial honey, chocolates, cakes, puddings, fast food, some types of breads, sausage and ham.
In addition, one must be aware of the labels and avoid excessive consumption of foods containing fructose, fructose syrup or corn syrup in their composition. To learn how to read labels correctly and not cheated by the industry, watch the following video:
