I read Tom Billing's article "Selected Myths of Raw foods" in Beyond
Vegetarianism, and I believe to have caught a Myth stated as Reality.
In the article, Tom states "Sugar: Milk contains small amounts of lactose, a
slowly assimilated sugar; fruit contains large amounts of glucose, fructose,
sucrose, and can cause an insulin spike (and hypoglycemic symptoms)." [1]
I'm no expert on the chemical composition of fruits, but I can read a
glycemic list. Fructose has a glycemic index of 32, while sucrose has an
index of 92, and glucose has an index of 137. Comparing that with the
glycemic index of several fruits:
FRUIT AND FRUIT PRODUCTS
Apple 54
Apple juice 58
Apricots 44
Banana 77
Cherries 32
Fruit cocktail 79
Grapefruit 36
Grapefruit juice 69
Grapes 66
Kiwifruit 75
Mango 80
Orange 63
Orange juice 74
Pawpaw 83
Peach, fresh 60
Peach, canned 67
Pear, fresh 53
Pear, canned 63
Pineapple 94
Pineapple juice 66
Plum 55
Raisins 91
Rockmelon (muskmelon) 93 [usually called
cantaloupe in the U.S.]
Sultanas 80
Watermelon 103
[2]
It does not follow that there is high amounts of sucrose or glucose in
fruits. The glycemix index is based on 50 grams of a substance, so for
certain fruits like apples, apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, it does not
make sense that they are high in sucrose or glucose. Now, pineapples and
watermelons are relatively high, so maybe they do have some concentrations
of sucrose and glucose.
I was under the impression that fruits contained mostly fruit sugar or
fructose. Using scientific knowledge by comparing the glycemic lists, I can
take that for a fact. I know I was wary of eating too much fruit because I
would be eating too much sugar and would be provoking a hypoglycemic
reaction. After listening to some scientific research, I eat fruit more
liberally.
Walter.
[1] http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/selected-myths.shtml (search for
glucose on your browser)
[2] http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm
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