We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

sugar vs sugar

Posts: 864
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Did that thread get locked???? I can't find it :sad: :laugh:

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
«1

Replies

  • Posts: 2,970 Member
    It was removed because some nastiness ensued.
  • Posts: 864
    Okay either no one knows what I'm talking about, or else no one wants to say anything because it got locked??????:ohwell:
  • Posts: 864
    It was removed because some nastiness ensued.

    Thanks! Darn:ohwell:
  • Posts: 18,702 Member
    the question originally submitted, was an important one.

    Is sugar in an orange or apple the same as a teaspoon of white refined sugar?

    I never did get my answer.:grumble:
  • Posts: 864
    I know I was wondering if they even decided on an answer
  • Posts: 1,613
    lol i know one thing, i;d rather eat the orange than the pure sugar..atleast u get good nutrients out of it... and i miss that thread :cry:
  • Posts: 6
    It's not the same. Sugar in fruit is in the form of fructose. Refined sugar is in the form of sucrose. Your body metabolizes these differently. Too much refined sugar can have long term damaging effects on your body (overweight, diabetes, etc), but sugar in the form of fructose is not bad for you unless you are a diabetic. Obviously fruit has calories but your body benefits much more from digesting food in its pure form. I'm not a scientist but that's the way I understand it :)
  • Posts: 2,970 Member
    From a biological standpoint rate of sugar absorption is important. Complex carbs are broken down into glucose which requires time so you have a slow release of sugar. Table sugar is just plain glucose so it is readily absorbed. Things like candy bars and cake don't spike blood sugar alot because they are combined with fats nuts, etc

    Hope this helps:flowerforyou:

    Edited to include nutrition resource http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978374#17184

    Types of sugars

    Monosaccarides (glucose, fructose and galactose) Do not need to be digested. They're readily absorbed by the intestinal cells.

    Disaccharides -sucrose (table sugar), maltose and lactose (milk) must be split into monosacsharides

    Polysaccarrides take a long time to digest.

    starch- a long chain of glucose molecules

    fiber is indigestable. Types are

    soluble fiber- which is fermented in the colon by bacteria which eat the fiber and give off gas and fatty acids which are used by the intestinal cells

    insoluble fiber binds bile acids and water
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Powerpoint presentation carbs
    http://www.uwgb.edu/pearsond/NUT_SCI_300site/300classNotes.html
  • Posts: 3,794 Member
    Wow, I didn't realize when I asked about sugar I'd be helping to start a board war! I'll be more careful about what I ask next time. :tongue:

    I am glad someone re-asked because the thread was deleted before I could get my answer.

    Thanks for the info!







    (PS, LeanLioness didn't quit or get banned, did she?)
  • Posts: 1,613
    Wow, I didn't realize when I asked about sugar I'd be helping to start a board war! I'll be more careful about what I ask next time. :tongue:

    I am glad someone re-asked because the thread was deleted before I could get my answer.

    Thanks for the info!







    (PS, LeanLioness didn't quit or get banned, did she?)
    woman how dare u ask about sugar!!! esp seeing as most of us are craving it 24/7 now that we've all gone for a healthier lifestyle and cant eat it 24.7 like before :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • Posts: 500 Member
    Fruit contains both fructose and glucose. This table has info on fruit: http://www.thefruitpages.com/contents.shtml

    Some have more sugar than others. I :love: fruit and I'm really happy to see that strawberries have comparatively low sugar content as I could easily live on them.
  • Posts: 3,794 Member
    I ate some ice cream, just now, so there! :tongue:
  • Posts: 1,613
    I ate some ice cream, just now, so there! :tongue:
    lol i had beef jerky...random but it still has 3 sugars in it and i ate 3 servings so i ate 9 sugars right there woot lmao
  • Posts: 4,463 Member
    I ate some ice cream, just now, so there! :tongue:

    Aha...and I'm regretting that extra serving of frozen yogurt. :tongue:
  • Posts: 1,613

    Aha...and I'm regretting that extra serving of frozen yogurt. :tongue:
    omg cappuchino choco chip frozen yogurt is sooooooo yummy
  • Posts: 2,446 Member
    Where's Steve? Has anyone tried asking him yet?
  • Posts: 8,715
    The way I understand it is refined sugar is quickly absorbed and causes the brain to crave its effects much like the craving of tobacco! the health effects are already stated. sugars from fruit are easier to metabolize as they accompany other nutrients as well like vitamin c in an orange. etc. the more basic in the food chain the easier to digest and metabolize. No addictive cravings for fructose from foods, the problem comes in with the high processing of foods. the body does not recognize it as a food, but as a toxin. I may be a bit off in the scientific aspect, but that is how I understand it.
  • Posts: 18,702 Member
    Where's Steve? Has anyone tried asking him yet?

    Ivy and Ibcausa had really good answers. I am going to read the pages they provided and get more info.

    This was very informative, thank you for your intelligent responses.

    I think one of my major issues is the way sugar and carbs are broken down by MY body. I am going to research today, and this was a perfect start for that.

    I love MFP...and you you all!!! lol

    :flowerforyou: Jeannie
  • Posts: 18,702 Member
    The way I understand it is refined sugar is quickly absorbed and causes the brain to crave its effects much like the craving of tobacco! the health effects are already stated. sugars from fruit are easier to metabolize as they accompany other nutrients as well like vitamin c in an orange. etc. the more basic in the food chain the easier to digest and metabolize. No addictive cravings for fructose from foods, the problem comes in with the high processing of foods. the body does not recognize it as a food, but as a toxin. I may be a bit off in the scientific aspect, but that is how I understand it.

    true, this is my understanding also. If I eat an apple I do not get a buzz and a crash like I do on a doughnut (:love: )

    Now that I have been diagnosed with a chocolate allergy:sad: :sad: it will be much easier to stay away from refined sugar
  • Posts: 22
    I had started a post asking about the sugar in fruit as well:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60760-question-sugar-fructose-from-fruit

    I am over my sugar everday because I eat 2 - 3 pieces of fruit every day... then when you factor a few grams of sugar that is in other food (vegetables, cereal, etc.) it all adds up quick.

    My sugar goal is 24 grams... I don't think I'll ever meet that goal, but does anybody know a reasonable number of grams that you can eat per day if it is only from fruit and vegetables and you exercise vigorously? I'm under the impression that going over my sugar, even though it's from fruit and vegetables, is hindering my results... if so, what kind of foods do you replace the fruits/veggies with to get your calories in? I train pretty hard, so I need to eat the calories, and I use fruit and vegetables, yogurt, eggs, nuts, etc. instead of packaged food to get my calories in...
  • Posts: 8,715

    true, this is my understanding also. If I eat an apple I do not get a buzz and a crash like I do on a doughnut (:love: )

    Now that I have been diagnosed with a chocolate allergy:sad: :sad: it will be much easier to stay away from refined sugar



    The sugar high as it has been called is from the receptors in the brain responding to it like nicotine or other stimulants. That is why most fast food places add sugar to the meat in the burgers etc. they want you hooked! I read a very interesting article about fast foods and sugar in them, but cannot find it to pass on. It is a nasty habit to kick, sugar seems to be in everything, but I feel so much better when not eating too much of it!
  • Posts: 124 Member
    the question originally submitted, was an important one.

    Is sugar in an orange or apple the same as a teaspoon of white refined sugar?

    I never did get my answer.:grumble:

    The sugar in fruit is combined with fiber so your body has to get thru the fiber before it can get to the sugar. Refined suger has been stripped and it practically digested for you before it hits your tummy, so your body is not required to work quite as hard. The sugar just goes straight to your bloodstream. Its like drinking alcohol on an empty stomach vs. a full stomach.
    I'll try to find the article where I learned that and post it here, but no promises. I think the alcohol comparisson makes alot of sense. Hope that helps.
  • Posts: 18,702 Member



    The sugar high as it has been called is from the receptors in the brain responding to it like nicotine or other stimulants. That is why most fast food places add sugar to the meat in the burgers etc. they want you hooked! I read a very interesting article about fast foods and sugar in them, but cannot find it to pass on. It is a nasty habit to kick, sugar seems to be in everything, but I feel so much better when not eating too much of it!

    :noway: that makes total sense. We owned an Italian place and my dad put sugar in the sauce and the pizza dough....now I know why:laugh:
  • Posts: 18,702 Member

    The sugar in fruit is combined with fiber so your body has to get thru the fiber before it can get to the sugar. Refined suger has been stripped and it practically digested for you before it hits your tummy, so your body is not required to work quite as hard. The sugar just goes straight to your bloodstream. Its like drinking alcohol on an empty stomach vs. a full stomach.
    I'll try to find the article where I learned that and post it here, but no promises. I think the alcohol comparisson makes alot of sense. Hope that helps.

    thanks holly. I wonder if eating a healthy meal prior to consuming dessert slows the process at all. Curious...
  • Posts: 1,613
    I still want sugar :cry:
  • Posts: 8,715

    :noway: that makes total sense. We owned an Italian place and my dad put sugar in the sauce and the pizza dough....now I know why:laugh:

    sugar in the pizza sauce makes it less acid tasting, and sugar in the dough makes it rise well and get nice and crispy in the baking. just to defend dear old dad! :happy: I bet it was really good pizza!
  • Posts: 18,702 Member

    sugar in the pizza sauce makes it less acid tasting, and sugar in the dough makes it rise well and get nice and crispy in the baking. just to defend dear old dad! :happy: I bet it was really good pizza!

    Havent had a perfect pizza since 1976:brokenheart:
  • Posts: 8,715

    Havent had a perfect pizza since 1976:brokenheart:

    That is a long time to miss Perfect Pizza. :flowerforyou: What a wonderful memory for you. They say smell and taste are our longest held memories! I bet the Italian place smelled like a touch of heaven!
  • Posts: 9,285 Member

    That is a long time to miss Perfect Pizza. :flowerforyou: What a wonderful memory for you. They say smell and taste are our longest held memories! I bet the Italian place smelled like a touch of heaven!

    Now I want the pizza they served at this tiny pizzaria around the corner from my school in Rome:sad: Of coarse, after I had been there for 6 months, I was craving nasty greasy American pizza.. go figure.
  • Posts: 124 Member

    thanks holly. I wonder if eating a healthy meal prior to consuming dessert slows the process at all. Curious...

    I have read that when the sugar is combined with a fat it also slows the absorbtion. I think it was in You: On a Diet. So say you have a scoop of ice cream, adding a handful of nuts make it better in more ways than one:wink: In the South Beach Diet, Dr. Agatston says that if you're going to reach for the bread basket; a drizzle of olive oil or a pat of real butter will lessen the spike in your blood sugar.
This discussion has been closed.