Subject: Study: Fructose blamed for rise in obesity

May 1, 2006

Study: Fructose blamed for rise in obesity

Widely used corn sweetener converts to fat in the body

SPECIAL REPORT

RALEIGH, N.C. - Researchers say they've found more evidence of a

link between a rapid rise in obesity and a corn product used to

sweeten soft drinks and food since the 1970s.

The researchers examined consumption records from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture for 1967-2000 and combined it with

previous research and their own analyses.

The data showed an increase in the use of high-fructose corn

sweeteners in the late 1970s and 1980s " coincidental with the

epidemic of obesity, " said one of the researchers, Dr. George A.

Bray, a longtime obesity scientist with Louisiana State University

System's Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

" Body weights rose slowly for most of the 20th century until the

late 1980s, " Bray said. " At that time, many countries showed a

sudden increase in the rate at which obesity has been galloping

forward. "

The study is being published in the April issue of the American

Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Among men, 71 percent are overweight, including 31 percent who are

obese. Among women, 62 percent are overweight, including 33 percent

who qualify as obese.

Sources: CDC 2004, AHA, NIH, & NHNES

Obesity among American adults climbed from 23 percent in the early

1990s to 30 percent today, according to the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services.

And two-thirds of Americans are

overweight. That means increased risks for heart disease, diabetes

and certain cancers.

The debate over high-fructose sweeteners centers on how the body

processes sugar. Unlike glucose, a major component in table sugar,

fructose doesn't trigger responses in hormones that regulate energy

use and appetite.That means fructose is more likely to be converted

into fat, the

researchers said.

The sweeteners are also cheaper to produce and use in food

manufacturing than cane and beet sugars, the study noted.The report,

which says more study is needed, also lays blame on

people for eating more and exercising less.

Container sizes a cause?

Barry M. Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill who worked on the study, said he believes a

third to half of the increase in calorie intake since the 1970s

comes from soft drinks and fruit drinks.

Their report says more than 132 calories a day consumed by Americans

age 2 and older come from corn sweeteners.

" We cannot increase our physical activity enough to offset the

extra 200 calories a day Americans are consuming, " he said.

May 2, 2006

JoAnn ... If, as this interesting article say's " fructose doesn't

trigger responses in hormones that regulate energy use and

appetite. "

then IMHO that would also apply to honey, as honey is mainly fruit

sugar i.e. fructose.

I know high fructose corn syrup is a whole different ball game

compared to natural honey but, fructose from honey could still be

converted to fat as per the the article.

Just a thought - Ray.

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo wrote:

>

> Study: Fructose blamed for rise in obesity

>

> Study: Fructose blamed for rise in obesity

> Widely used corn sweetener converts to fat in the body

> SPECIAL REPORT

>

> RALEIGH, N.C. - Researchers say they've found more evidence of a

> link between a rapid rise in obesity and a corn product used to

> sweeten soft drinks and food since the 1970s.

>

> The researchers examined consumption records from the U.S.

> Department of Agriculture for 1967-2000 and combined it with

> previous research and their own analyses.

>

> The data showed an increase in the use of high-fructose corn

> sweeteners in the late 1970s and 1980s " coincidental with the

> epidemic of obesity, " said one of the researchers, Dr. George A.

> Bray, a longtime obesity scientist with Louisiana State University

> System's Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

>

> " Body weights rose slowly for most of the 20th century until the

> late 1980s, " Bray said. " At that time, many countries showed a

> sudden increase in the rate at which obesity has been galloping

> forward. "

>

> The study is being published in the April issue of the American

> Journal of Clinical Nutrition

>

> Among men, 71 percent are overweight, including 31 percent who are

> obese. Among women, 62 percent are overweight, including 33 percent

> who qualify as obese.

>

> Sources: CDC 2004, AHA, NIH, & NHNES

>

May 3, 2006

, " bodelva7 "

<vergil7 wrote:

>

> JoAnn ... If, as this interesting article say's " fructose doesn't

> trigger responses in hormones that regulate energy use and

> appetite. "

> then IMHO that would also apply to honey, as honey is mainly fruit

> sugar i.e. fructose.

> I know high fructose corn syrup is a whole different ball game

> compared to natural honey but, fructose from honey could still be

> converted to fat as per the the article.

>

> Just a thought - Ray.

>

Hi Ray!

All calories that are not used up in the body are converted to

fat, and I'm told that an extremely healthy body metabolizes fat to

such an extent that rolls of cellulite become non-existant! :-) And

my health in recent years seems to bear this out. My sister is

concerned about my weight. I'm not concerned at all. I think she

just may learn something. A high fiber diet is what we need

Ray! I'm not just sure how much honey impacts glucose levels,

however I don't believe that I would advise it for a diabetic, in

any form. Raw honey is supposed to be better for sugar metabolism.

Pasteurized honey impacts sugar levels the same as refined sugars

and immobilizes the immune system in the same way according to

recent studies.

Although I'm not quite sure just which part of the article you're

referring to, I know that honey is a very good sugar substitute and

provides a host of beneficial nutrients. There are so many different

varieties of honey that is hard to comment on this without knowing

more, although I'm sure it wouldn't lead to weight gain unless

consumed in very large amounts. I believe that the article is

basically commenting on the adverse effects of high fructose corn

syrups in the diet however there are so many sources of fructose on

the market now it would be hard to tell exactly.

I do know that specific varieties such as Tupelo honey is beneficial

for different ailments relative to extremely high acidity. They say

that the darker honey provides more of the essential nutrients.

After all, isn't that what we're striving for...more nutrient dense

foods. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I know that's why I'm

constantly researching and trying to learn more about natural

health.

JoAnn

May 3, 2006

Thank's for that JoAnn - as you know sugar and I are old foes !

isn't it criminal that they pasteurize a natural product like honey.

As you say - raw honey is the way to go.

For me personally, I find if I eat low on the glycemic index,

I seem to function so much better - yes! a high fiber diet *is*

what we need ... speaking of weight JoAnn, all my brother's and sister's

are of lean build - and all 5 of them are on various meds for HBP.

At 54, I take the alternative medicine forum and keep well away from meds !

Keep up the sterling work - Ray