Why is fructose used in slimming foods?

Answer 1

Fructose molecules must be converted into glucose for use by our bodies. The only usable sugar that our body can use in metabolic processes is glucose. The result is glucose can be metabolised quickly and consequently will create an insulin concentration "spike" as it rapidly digests, fructose however is digested slower than glucose as it must be converted by various biochemical reactions. The resulting insulin profile of fructose is less of spike and more of a hill (I'm talking about a profile that has time on the y axis and concentration on the X axis).

So what does all this mean? well Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to pass into cells from the bloodstream so they can metabolise. Insulin is also responsible for signalling the storage of fat so high insulin concentrations (as was the case for dietary glucose) produce a fat storing environment. Thus out of an equal amount of glucose and fructose, calorifically speaking, the glucose is more likely to promote fat storage by virtue of the resulting insulin profile.

Answer 2

The names of the different types of enzymes usually end in the letters -ase. Three of the most common enzymes with their chemical actions are: * lipase - breaks down fats * protease - breaks down proteins * carbohydrase - breaks down carbohydrates Enzymes allow certain industrial processes to be carried out at normal temperatures and pressures, thereby reducing the amount of energy and expensive equipment needed. Enzymes are also used in the home, for example, in 'biological' detergents. The table shows some common enzyme uses you should be familiar with. {| ! |- ! | protease used to pre-digest proteins during the manufacture of baby foods lipase used - together with protease - in biological detergents to break down - digest - the substances in stains into smaller, water soluble substances carbohydrase used to convert starch syrup, which is relatively cheap, into sugar syrup, which is more valuable - for example, as an ingredient in sports drinks isomerase used to convert glucose syrup into fructose syrup -fructose is sweeter than glucose, so it can be used in smaller amounts in slimming foods |}

Answer 3

its sweeter then sucrose (regular sugar) so you get the same sweetness for a smaller amout there for less calories