Honey, Agave, Cane Sugar like High Fructose Corn Syrup

September 15, 2015 Culinary Medicine Comments Off on Honey, Agave, Cane Sugar like High Fructose Corn Syrup
Honey is almost pure fructose

Honey is almost pure fructose

Think high fructose corn syrup is any different than raw honey, cane sugar, or table sugar? Turns out it really isn’t. When tested with volunteers the same effect from the fructose component of sugar impairs equally whether it comes from honey, cane sugar, raw sugar, or high fructose corn syrup.

 THE STUDY
For two weeks, a group of volunteers took 50 grams of carbohydrate from honey, sucrose (table sugar), or high fructose corn syrup. This is equivalent to one “medium” drink of coke, or 2 pieces of Pita bread, or 1 bowl of oatmeal, or 1 cup of rice.

In all people – there was an increase in triglycerides in all. In those with an impaired glucose tolerance, there was increased inflammatory response and glycemic response. We have discussed High Fructose Corn Syrup: Health Risks previously.

Fructose is passively absorbed in the small bowel. Fructose in fruit is mostly bound to the fiber of fruit and not completely absorbed. Thus, the effect of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, agave, and the fructose found in baked goods, juices, and yogurt are devastating.

The American Heart Association has stated that women should have no more than 24 grams of sugar a day (36 for men).

The importance is to realize that “raw sugar” or “agave” or any fructose has the same effect as high fructose corn syrup – but in terms of grams of fructose (the evil twin in table sugar) there is more fructose in honey and Agave Nectar (which is all fructose). But to also realize how many ingredients have fructose as a component. This can be devastating to people who have impaired glucose tolerance.

 

  • 1 Tablespoon of honey has 17 grams  of fructose
  • 1 tablespoon of Agave Nectar has 15 grams of fructose
  • 1 Krispy Crème Donut contains 10 grams of sugar or 5 grams of fructose
  •  1 teaspoon of table sugar has 2 grams of fructose
  • 1 Medium Coke contains 44 grams of sugar or 22 grams of fructose

 

See that 19 grams of sugar on the back of yogurt? Consider the American Heart Association recommends 24 grams for a daily dose for women. This has more sugar in it than some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream - so you think this is healthy? Really? It isn't. Most yogurt is nothing more than a less tasty ice cream.

See that 19 grams of sugar on the back of yogurt? Consider the American Heart Association recommends 24 grams for a daily dose for women. This has more sugar in it than some Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream – so you think this is healthy? Really? It isn’t. Most yogurt is nothing more than a less tasty ice cream.

1 serving of Chobani Greek Strawberry Yogurt 19 grams of sugar about 10 grams of fructose.

REFERENCE:
Consumption of Honey, Sucrose, and High-Fructose Corn Syrup Produces Similar Metabolic Effects in Glucose-Tolerant and -Intolerant Individuals1,2
Susan K Raatz, LuAnn K Johnson3, and Matthew J Picklo

Journal of Nutrition, September 2015

About the Author
You probably first saw Dr. Simpson on TikTok or Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. Dr. Terry Simpson received his undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees from the University of Chicago where he spent several years in the Kovler Viral Oncology laboratories doing genetic engineering. Until he found he liked people more than Petri dishes. Dr. Simpson, a weight loss surgeon, is an advocate of culinary medicine. He believes teaching people to improve their health through their food and in their kitchen. On the other side of the world, he has been a leading advocate of changing health care to make it more "relationship based," and his efforts awarded his team the Malcolm Baldrige award for healthcare in 2018 and 2011 for the NUKA system of care in Alaska and in 2013 Dr Simpson won the National Indian Health Board Area Impact Award. A frequent contributor to media outlets discussing health related topics and advances in medicine, he is also a proud dad, author, cook, and surgeon “in that order.” For media inquiries, please visit www.terrysimpson.com.