What is fructose | Application | Daily rate of fructose
Sugar substitutes and diabetes are a topic full of controversy. And there is no more controversial sugar substitute than fructose. And it’s strange that being something that is included in many natural products, it has been causing heated discussions in scientific circles for a decade. Let’s figure it out together in this article — is fructose harmful in diabetes, or is it not?
What is fructose
Fructose is a naturally occurring simpler monosaccharide. It is also called a fruit carbohydrate because it is found in high amounts in all sugary fruits, vegetables, berries, and honey.
In 1847, scientists first obtained pure fructose from food. And after 20 years they learned how to synthesize it in the laboratory.
Regular sugar contains 50% sweetener. It is also found in lactulose, which is found in milk. Therefore, generally speaking, the molecules of this substance are present in 90% of all products in the world.
Physical properties of fructose
- Melting temperature 102-105 degrees Celsius.
- It is hygroscopic, retains moisture at high concentrations.
- Easily soluble in water and alcohol.
- It is what Jerusalem artichokes consist of.
There are two ways to get it.
- Naturally. I already wrote in which products it is contained above. Most of all it is in sweet fruits. But you will be surprised to learn that this sweetener is produced commercially from Jerusalem artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke is a tuber, which is also called an earthen pear. There is a separate article about it on the site, as it is very useful for diabetes. So, it turns out that Jerusalem artichoke is the only product in nature that contains pure fructose. It is soaked in acid, and then the sweetener is evaporated.
- Artificial. Fructose is part of sucrose, a sugar molecule. In laboratory conditions, the molecule is divided into fructose and glucose.
These two methods of obtaining a sweetener differ only in the process. The final product is identical in both cases, so there is no difference in natural fructose and artificially obtained one.
Application
Fructose is the most popular sweetener in the world. More than 80% of dietary products contain it. And this is in view of the constant scandals and continuous research on the harm and benefits. Also, this sweetener is used in pharmaceuticals.
Daily rate of fructose
The daily norm for a person weighing 60 kg is 40 grams.
When consumed in excess, there is an increased appetite and weight gain. With a lack of fructose in the body: a breakdown occurs, mood becomes is depressive and irritable, apathy and nervous exhaustion sets in.