Is fruit sugar different than processed sugar?

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  • jehavin
    jehavin Posts: 316 Member
    I think it depends on who you're listening to on whether or not fruit sugar is "better" than processed, but what I've found is that the *addiction* to sugar that is prevalent in overweight people cannot be sufficiently broken unless you lower your fruit intake or eliminate it altogether for a set period of time. Otherwise, you are still psychologically bound to that "flavor" and the physiological reaction that your body gets from large infusions of sugar.
    I'm not an expert, but I've been managing my carbs for a year now and when asked, I advise "fruit lovers" to switch to less sweet fruits such as blueberries, rasp/blackberries, rhubarb, etc that will give you a good amount of fructose but help curb the sweet tooth. Those types of fruit have also been shown to have different nutrient benefits from the overly sweet "seasonal" favorites such as melons, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, etc.
    Also, as a previous poster said, it's good to temper the fruit with some protein, such as cheese or greek yogurt, which can keep a sugar addict from binging on it.
    In "The 4 Hour Body," the author makes a valid argument that fruit is not necessarily a cornerstone of a daily diet, but more of a natural "treat" that has been mainstreamed b/c it tends to taste better than vegetables/greens, which ARE necessary on a daily basis.
  • jehavin
    jehavin Posts: 316 Member
    ETA: I only eat about one piece of fruit a day, which adds about 15-25g of carbs to my daily total of around 150-200g. Do I feel like I am missing out on nutrients by not having more? No way! I can eat way more veggies/greens for less carbs that have the SAME nutrients/vitamins without as many calories or as much temptation to overeat =)

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