Fructose in Nature
Fructose is produced by plants, and is found in most fruits and root vegetables. It has the same chemical composition as glucose, but the molecule is arranged differently. Plants use the sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to sugar and oxygen. When we consume fruit, the sugars provide our body with energy and a sweet flavor. Fructose is sweeter than other sugars such as sucrose and glucose, and even honey.
Synthetic Fructose
Most fructose is produced as a component of high fructose corn syrup, used in food manufacturing because it is cheap and effective as a flavoring and preservative. Corn is milled into cornstarch, which is then treated with the enzyme alpha-amylase to break down long chains of sugars into oligo-saccharides. Another enzyme, glucoamylase, processes the chains further to produce glucose. At this point, gluco-isomerase, a third enzyme, is added to convert glucose to fructose. The product is about half glucose and half fructose, with some other sugars in the mix. This is then processed through liquid chromatography to enrich the fructose content, ending up at about 90 percent fructose. The final product can be mixed back with a less concentrated syrup to adjust the fructose levels further. High fructose corn syrup is about 55 percent fructose.
Health Concerns
Doctors and scientists have recently become concerned that fructose is more harmful to our bodies than other forms of sugar. A study done at the University of California showed that fructose consumption increased levels of unhealthful cholesterol. However, most nutritionists recommend limiting all sugar, not just fructose, and there is not strong evidence that fructose is much more harmful than other forms of simple sugar.
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Writer Bio
Amelia Apfel is a freelance journalist currently living and writing in Seattle, Washington. She has previously written for the Cornell Chronicle, Tompkins Weekly, and ecoTimes. She is passionate about science, the outdoors and very good coffee. Apfel graduated from Cornell University in 2008, with a bachelor's degree in environmental biology.