Yogurt. Canned Fruits. Ketchup. Breakfast cereals. Cupcakes. What do these popular foods all have in common? They all contain sugar. As a result of massive amounts of processing sugars show up in a lot of the foods we eat. Some sugar can me processed into energy, but too much sugar can result in unwanted weight gain, and there’s nothing sweet about that type of muffin top.
Because sugars are added into a variety of foods we eat, these sugars often carry a high glycemic index rating which in turn means that these sugars will be absorbed quickly within our bloodstream. This then causes the pancreas to give off insulin, which then lowers the blood sugar levels in our bodies. This roller coaster of blood sugar levels puts stress on our body and it can also lead to diabetes and a chance for coronary disease.
The average American consumes approximately 115 lbs of sugar per year. This overconsumption of sugar often results in obesity, and with nearly two-thirds of the US population classified as being overweight, obesity is a major problem.
Photo Credit: SugarStacks.com
Is the sugar content in dried fruit, that has no sugar added to it, easily processed into energy since it is natural sugar from the fruit or does it still add up to not being great for your body?
Non-sugar added dried fruit generally provides a blend of fructose and glucose with dietary fiber from the original fruit.
The glucose is easily absorbed into the bloodstream and taken up by tissue and so more easily available for energy. The fructose is more heavily processed through the liver. Excessive amounts get converted to triglycerides and then stored as fat. Fiber from the fruit is present which will even out the glycemic effect.
The discussion here would not be the same in fruits where the fiber is removed. People focus on the calorie impact and its difference from the original fruit however that is a consequence of water and mass differential. The fruit is going to be re-hydrated inside your body so there is not really a big difference. This is best illustrated by raisins and grapes; the same food except for the degree of hydration.
So where a person is getting plenty of non-caffeinated fluids a reasonable amount of non-sugar added dried fruits would be great for a person.
Wow! What an amazing response, thanks so much. One of my kids doesn’t eat a ton of fresh fruit, but will eat some dried fruit and it’s good to know that in moderation, it’s providing some of the healthy benefits.