How in the heck does anyone manage sugar?

lithezebra

MFP can't tell the difference between a fruit sugar and table sugar. Fruit never made anyone fat. As long as you're eating more veg than fruit (I say this because I know people who hate vegetables, but get their '5 a day' in fruit and think it's okay) overall, you're on the right track.

fruit can make people fat...

whats the chemical difference of sugar from fruit vs table sugar?

Table sugar is sucrose, which is one glucose molecule bonded to one fructose molecule. Fruit typically contains free glucose, free fructose, and sucrose. There isn't much of a practical difference, for calorie counting, because all of it can be metabolized for energy, or stored as glycogen or fat. For that matter, starch is just a bunch of glucose molecules strung together, which is rapidly broken down into glucose and used or stored. So if you're choosing between candy and a piece of fruit, or bread, or a potato, gram for gram, the carbs are the same.

The advantage of fruit, potatoes, and whole grains is that you get some great micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber along with varying amounts of sugar.

DatMurse

MFP can't tell the difference between a fruit sugar and table sugar. Fruit never made anyone fat. As long as you're eating more veg than fruit (I say this because I know people who hate vegetables, but get their '5 a day' in fruit and think it's okay) overall, you're on the right track.

fruit can make people fat...

whats the chemical difference of sugar from fruit vs table sugar?

Table sugar is sucrose, which is one glucose molecule bonded to one fructose molecule. Fruit typically contains free glucose, free fructose, and sucrose. There isn't much of a practical difference, for calorie counting, because all of it can be metabolized for energy, or stored as glycogen or fat. For that matter, starch is just a bunch of glucose molecules strung together, which is rapidly broken down into glucose and used or stored. So if you're choosing between candy and a piece of fruit, or bread, or a potato, gram for gram, the carbs are the same.

The advantage of fruit, potatoes, and whole grains is that you get some great micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber along with varying amounts of sugar.

I am well aware of that. I am just pointing out that both can make you fat depending on the quantity.

lithezebra

MFP can't tell the difference between a fruit sugar and table sugar. Fruit never made anyone fat. As long as you're eating more veg than fruit (I say this because I know people who hate vegetables, but get their '5 a day' in fruit and think it's okay) overall, you're on the right track.

fruit can make people fat...

whats the chemical difference of sugar from fruit vs table sugar?

Table sugar is sucrose, which is one glucose molecule bonded to one fructose molecule. Fruit typically contains free glucose, free fructose, and sucrose. There isn't much of a practical difference, for calorie counting, because all of it can be metabolized for energy, or stored as glycogen or fat. For that matter, starch is just a bunch of glucose molecules strung together, which is rapidly broken down into glucose and used or stored. So if you're choosing between candy and a piece of fruit, or bread, or a potato, gram for gram, the carbs are the same.

The advantage of fruit, potatoes, and whole grains is that you get some great micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber along with varying amounts of sugar.

I am well aware of that. I am just pointing out that both can make you fat depending on the quantity.

Ask, and you shall receive!

Joehenny

I don't even care about my sugar.

southpaw211

I manage it by not tracking it. I track sodium instead. I try not to eat refined/processed sugar anyhow, so I know that 99% of my daily sugar is natural. I try not to be excessive with fruit or milk, but I still go over I'm sure. Anyhow, I figure for me that sodium is probably more productive to keep an eye on daily.

Sarauk2sf

I ignore it. Unless you have a medical reason to need to track every gram of sugar there's no need. MFP's recommendations are, for some reason, set to the customary recommendation for *added* sugars.

^^ this.

Sugar is just a subset of carbs.

Also, the *added* sugar recommendation is basically a made up number anyway.

dreamweavers4

I love this post, I was having the same problem! I couldn't stay in my sugar limits! So happy to see it isn't a real problem!