processed sugar vs sugar in fruits and veggies

jwuchef87
jwuchef87 Posts: 110 Member
Howdy-
So MFP is telling me i'm going over in sugar everyday but i'm eating fruits and veggies. Does your body tell the difference or is a sugar a sugar? And is it a huge deal?
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Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Howdy-
    Does your body tell the difference or is a sugar a sugar?

    No (sugar is sugar), but generally speaking, whole and minimally processed or unprocessed sources of sugar, such as fruit, will contain fiber and other nutrients. Pepsi for example, doesn't.


    And is it a huge deal?

    No, given you are not diabetic and have relatively normal insulin function.
  • xarge
    xarge Posts: 484 Member
    What package the sugar comes in matters for the body. So the sugar you get from fruits are better than refined sugars because they come with micronutrients and fiber. That said, a calorie is still a calorie ;) As long as you are in your caloric limits, don't linger on that limit much. It's more intended for refined sugars.
  • jwuchef87
    jwuchef87 Posts: 110 Member
    thanks! ;)
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    What package the sugar comes in matters for the body. So the sugar you get from fruits are better than refined sugars because they come with micronutrients and fiber. That said, a calorie is still a calorie ;) As long as you are in your caloric limits, don't linger on that limit much. It's more intended for refined sugars.

    Perfect Answer!!

    Its not the sugar its the fact that it has no fiber and other micronutrients with it.
  • mermx
    mermx Posts: 976
    I would watch your sugar intake and try to keep it relatively low.
    Sugar does not contain fat. But eating a lot of sugar is not the key to a fat-free lifestyle. Your body uses sugar as fuel. The sugar you'd buy in the grocery store is broken down into a couple of simpler sugars for use. Likewise, the fat and carbohydrates (breads and cereals) you eat are also broken down into simple sugars and used. Any fuel left over, no matter whether it came originally from sugar or from breads or from fat (because chemically it's now exactly the same thing) will be stored by your body. It does that by building fatty acids out of the leftover sugars and storing them in fat cells (called adipocytes).

    You can get vitamins, minerals, and amino acids by eating all the things that are supposed to be good for you -- meats, beans, fruits, vegetables, etc. But keep in mind that fruit contains a lot of natural sugars as well. So if you're looking to lose weight, go easy on the fruit and breads and fill yourself up on proteins.
  • fab_ridz
    fab_ridz Posts: 73
    The sugar in fruits are fructose whereas the sugar that is put into donuts, pop, and other sweet foods is sucrose. The chemical composition is different. It is said that fructose that is in fruits is better than sucrose (which is composed of 2 glucose molecules)
    But you should not go way over in fructose (fruit sugar). That is what I would say.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    An MFP friend told me the other day that the Government reccommended levels for sugar are 90g! So since then, having had my MFP goal at 33g and always being over and worrying, I just deleted the tab.

    I used to have a big ice cream with toppings and sauce every day at work, and now I've cut down to a cone and flake for 23g sugar, and 195 calories. Much better for me. With that and having the odd fruit juice, my sugar was always over!
  • jwuchef87
    jwuchef87 Posts: 110 Member
    MFP has it at 28 grams per day...i'm already 35 grams over but for today all the sugar except 8 grams(fiber bar) is coming from fruits and veggies...banana, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, yellow onions...oh, and a yoplait light...that one has 10g :-/
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I would watch your sugar intake and try to keep it relatively low.
    Sugar does not contain fat. But eating a lot of sugar is not the key to a fat-free lifestyle. Your body uses sugar as fuel. The sugar you'd buy in the grocery store is broken down into a couple of simpler sugars for use. Likewise, the fat and carbohydrates (breads and cereals) you eat are also broken down into simple sugars and used. Any fuel left over, no matter whether it came originally from sugar or from breads or from fat (because chemically it's now exactly the same thing) will be stored by your body. It does that by building fatty acids out of the leftover sugars and storing them in fat cells (called adipocytes).

    You can get vitamins, minerals, and amino acids by eating all the things that are supposed to be good for you -- meats, beans, fruits, vegetables, etc. But keep in mind that fruit contains a lot of natural sugars as well. So if you're looking to lose weight, go easy on the fruit and breads and fill yourself up on proteins.


    But if you are eating in a calorie deficit, any fatty acids that are produced are going to be oxidized. Fat oxidation will exceed fat storage in a deficit.
    http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319
  • mermx
    mermx Posts: 976
    Maybe try to swap some fruits for more veggies? Carrot sticks, celery sticks etc
  • Id rather curb the sweet tooth with a fruit though. Cant even have 2 fruit without going over, but I fugure its fruit and thats all the actual sugar I eat. I guess we must try and eat as natural as possible as most bought foods have added sugars in the processing. I was also wondering about that.
  • MoonPointer
    MoonPointer Posts: 3 Member
    For weight loss, "Enjoy the odd fruits that pretend to be vegetables— think avocados, olives, and tomatoes— in moderation."

    Westman, Dr. Eric C.; Phinney, Dr. Stephen D.; Jeff S. Volek (2010-02-17). The New Atkins for a New You (p. 93). Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

    Also helpful to read Gary Taubes' book on Why We Get Fat.
  • All sugars are not created equal. Please review the chemistry of a simple sugar molecule (such as fructose aka fruit) and a complex sugar molecule (aka sucrose and other polysaccharides). The body can break down fruit sugar very easily and use it for energy IMMEDIATELY versus trying to break down complex sugars which are molecularly structures built on top of structure (and is not so readily available for the body to use as energy).

    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    I hope this helps ALL of you see SUGAR in a different light. Everything should be in moderation, but please choose a serving of fruit over a nutrigrain bar.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    I hope this helps ALL of you see SUGAR in a different light. Everything should be in moderation, but please choose a serving of fruit over a nutrigrain bar.

    Excess calories are stored as bodyfat. Eat too much fruit and you will get fat, period. Same with cake, beans, or rice, or whatever.
  • As I said before, everything should be in moderation, but I refuse to believe that 30g of sugar from an apple will effect my body the same as 30g of sugar from a Little Debbie Snack Cake. Two completely different chemical makeups. The apple will provide readily available energy, and its actual chemical breakdown starts while you are chewing (all food does). The snack cake's sugar is more complex in nature (manufatured sugars) and the body will break down what it can, but what it cannot use it immediately (i.e. causes a high or spike in glycemic index or "sugar surge" due the the body's inability to break down complex sugar structures for immediate use) , it will be stored.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    All sugars are not created equal. Please review the chemistry of a simple sugar molecule (such as fructose aka fruit) and a complex sugar molecule (aka sucrose and other polysaccharides). The body can break down fruit sugar very easily and use it for energy IMMEDIATELY versus trying to break down complex sugars which are molecularly structures built on top of structure (and is not so readily available for the body to use as energy).

    You know fruits contain sucrose right?
    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    Please stop making things up
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    As I said before, everything should be in moderation, but I refuse to believe that 30g of sugar from an apple will effect my body the same as 30g of sugar from a Little Debbie Snack Cake. Two completely different chemical makeups. The apple will provide readily available energy, and its actual chemical breakdown starts while you are chewing (all food does). The snack cake's sugar is more complex in nature (manufatured sugars) and the body will break down what it can, but what it cannot use it immediately (i.e. causes a high or spike in glycemic index or "sugar surge" due the the body's inability to break down complex sugar structures for immediate use) , it will be stored.

    You can refuse to believe what you want, but your reasoning is incorrect.

    That being said, an apple will usually be a better choice of foods due to the nutrients it provides and due to it being less calorie dense. But in terms of how the sugar in each food is metabolized, the differences are not substantial.

    Additionally it doesn't matter whether or not you use all of your food for energy in the short term. All that matters is that fat oxidation exceeds fat storage (assuming you are trying to lose fat). This happens in a calorie deficit. In short -- any fat storage that may occur in the short term will be oxidized between meals.

    I would recommend that you read this, not because I want you to eat donuts (I don't, really -- apples are probably better in most circumstances) but it might provide you with some research to clear up some things:

    http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    All sugars are not created equal. Please review the chemistry of a simple sugar molecule (such as fructose aka fruit) and a complex sugar molecule (aka sucrose and other polysaccharides). The body can break down fruit sugar very easily and use it for energy IMMEDIATELY versus trying to break down complex sugars which are molecularly structures built on top of structure (and is not so readily available for the body to use as energy).

    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    I hope this helps ALL of you see SUGAR in a different light. Everything should be in moderation, but please choose a serving of fruit over a nutrigrain bar.

    I sincerely hope that your post was a joke.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    As I said before, everything should be in moderation, but I refuse to believe that 30g of sugar from an apple will effect my body the same as 30g of sugar from a Little Debbie Snack Cake. Two completely different chemical makeups. The apple will provide readily available energy, and its actual chemical breakdown starts while you are chewing (all food does). The snack cake's sugar is more complex in nature (manufatured sugars) and the body will break down what it can, but what it cannot use it immediately (i.e. causes a high or spike in glycemic index or "sugar surge" due the the body's inability to break down complex sugar structures for immediate use) , it will be stored.

    Lol que?

    Why is glucose used as the reference food for the GI index?
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    All sugars are not created equal. Please review the chemistry of a simple sugar molecule (such as fructose aka fruit) and a complex sugar molecule (aka sucrose and other polysaccharides). The body can break down fruit sugar very easily and use it for energy IMMEDIATELY versus trying to break down complex sugars which are molecularly structures built on top of structure (and is not so readily available for the body to use as energy).

    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    I hope this helps ALL of you see SUGAR in a different light. Everything should be in moderation, but please choose a serving of fruit over a nutrigrain bar.

    You're wrong on ALL accounts. That about sum it up?
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.
    So untrue... calories are calories and sugar is sugar no matter if it’s a candy bar or an apple. Now there is more benefit to natural things on the body such as fruits have fiber and so on but sugar is sugar. I know a lot of people who preach the eat whatever you want as long as it is natural and you will lose because it is different on your body, load of garbage. Have a ton of those people at work, they are about 100 pounds plus overweight or more eating their veggies and fruits while I am macking on my twix bars and ice cream and donuts. They always wonder how come I can eat junk food and carbs, oh my goodness I said carbs!, all day and loose. Because a calorie no matter in what you eat is a calorie, same as sugar. Sugar doesn’t just magically transform into something else in fruit. HAH One of them told me oh my goodness are you going to eat that it is so bad for you!!! She was about 150 pounds overweight and eating an apple, heheh.
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    All sugars are not created equal. Please review the chemistry of a simple sugar molecule (such as fructose aka fruit) and a complex sugar molecule (aka sucrose and other polysaccharides). The body can break down fruit sugar very easily and use it for energy IMMEDIATELY versus trying to break down complex sugars which are molecularly structures built on top of structure (and is not so readily available for the body to use as energy).

    Think about it... you don't see people getting fat from eating fruit, but eating bread, candy, cakes, and pies will funnel a different result. These are two different sugars in its chemical make up and the body treats them very differently. Fruit sugar will NOT be stored in body fat. Whereas, complex sugars in cereal bars or other manuafactured "so-called healthy" snacks will.

    Processed sugars may be broken down by the body a little bit, but what the body can't break down from these manufactured sugars, it just store in your body fat.

    I hope this helps ALL of you see SUGAR in a different light. Everything should be in moderation, but please choose a serving of fruit over a nutrigrain bar.

    I sincerely hope that your post was a joke.

    I don't think it was, HAH! Can't believe how many people are believing this stuff they are pushing to the public! Seriously!
  • I love a good debate. You have all made my day! :-)
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    Calories are calories and sugar is sugar, but is much much harder to overeat fruits and vegetables than processed snacks and desserts.

    In theory 1000 calories of cake would cause the same amount of fat gain as 1000 calories of steamed vegetables. However, in practice, it's very easy to eat 1000 calories of cake, but most people couldn't choke down 1000 calories of steamed vegetables if they tried. Even 1000 calories of fruit would be pushing it - 8 or 9 large bananas. Doable, but not all that tempting, at least to me.
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    I love a good debate. You have all made my day! :-)

    Good debate or not, people shouldn't be pushing things on this site that are not true. It confuses the crap out of the newbie’s then someone has to chime in to correct the “debate” if you can call it that. Had 3 people listen to this crap and e-mail me because they can't seem to loose weight and were told that all natural without a deficit would create a magical deficit because its processed differently in their body. You don't see them being happy about finding that out 3 months into their "diet" with their wedding fast approaching.
  • Evarell
    Evarell Posts: 143 Member
    Calories are calories and sugar is sugar, but is much much harder to overeat fruits and vegetables than processed snacks and desserts.

    In theory 1000 calories of cake would cause the same amount of fat gain as 1000 calories of steamed vegetables. However, in practice, it's very easy to eat 1000 calories of cake, but most people couldn't choke down 1000 calories of steamed vegetables if they tried. Even 1000 calories of fruit would be pushing it - 8 or 9 large bananas. Doable, but not all that tempting, at least to me.

    Well said!
  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    Personally, I have a major sweet tooth. I know it, I accept it and I don't try to fight it because I've never succeeded. So for me, I look at it like this: I'll hit my calorie goals, my vitamin/mineral goals and my exercise goals. If I'm eating fruit instead of ice cream, I consider that a success. Bonus: I can eat way more fruit than ice cream and still hit my calorie goals. I've tried to swap some fruits out and some veggies in (though I already eat quite a bit of veggies) but still end up craving something sweet so I just focus on making my sugary choices as healthful as possible. I've also worked very hard to get my eating habits very clean and eat very few processed foods these days...so I'm not terribly concerned with some natural sugar.

    I'm someone who could eat 1000 calories of fruit...crazy but true. I have to purposely buy limited amounts at a time to prevent it. Guess I could have worse addictions ;)
  • prettygirlhoward
    prettygirlhoward Posts: 338 Member
    As I said before, everything should be in moderation, but I refuse to believe that 30g of sugar from an apple will effect my body the same as 30g of sugar from a Little Debbie Snack Cake. Two completely different chemical makeups. The apple will provide readily available energy, and its actual chemical breakdown starts while you are chewing (all food does). The snack cake's sugar is more complex in nature (manufatured sugars) and the body will break down what it can, but what it cannot use it immediately (i.e. causes a high or spike in glycemic index or "sugar surge" due the the body's inability to break down complex sugar structures for immediate use) , it will be stored.

    You can refuse to believe what you want, but your reasoning is incorrect.

    That being said, an apple will usually be a better choice of foods due to the nutrients it provides and due to it being less calorie dense. But in terms of how the sugar in each food is metabolized, the differences are not substantial.

    Additionally it doesn't matter whether or not you use all of your food for energy in the short term. All that matters is that fat oxidation exceeds fat storage (assuming you are trying to lose fat). This happens in a calorie deficit. In short -- any fat storage that may occur in the short term will be oxidized between meals.

    I would recommend that you read this, not because I want you to eat donuts (I don't, really -- apples are probably better in most circumstances) but it might provide you with some research to clear up some things:

    http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319


    THANKS for sharing that website.... I went to it and found it VERY informative for me. My daughter suffers from obesity and is insulin resistant (so her Dr says) this reallys helps me to better understand the works of insulin.
  • pinthin87
    pinthin87 Posts: 296 Member
    I believe that you can get fat from eating ANY food in excess, but what it really boils down to is genetics. I am sorry that this will make some people mad but men and women are not affected by sugar in the same way. Men have the ability to become super lean in a fraction of the time it takes a woman to do so. I do not believe that men and women metabolize anything the same exact way including sugar. If they did how do explain instances where a man and woman of the same height and weight who are both addicted to sodas set out to kick the habit; then after let's say a month of discontinuing sodas the man loses 5 pounds while the woman gains 1. I know there are several other factors that would need to be considered in that hypothetical situation, but if we are just simply speaking on the change in metabolism due to gaining some better eating practices, the man is drastically different then the WOMAN!
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    I love a good debate. You have all made my day! :-)

    I wouldn't consider it a debate when you are absolutely wrong.