Fructose again linked to fat build-up: study

Fructose again linked to fat build-up: study

By Stephen Daniells
7/25/2008- Fat build-up from fructose consumption may be greater than what occurs when we eat other types of sugars, such as glucose and sucrose, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Texas recruited six young, healthy, lean people to take part in their study, which compared the formation of fat (lipogenesis) following consumption of pure glucose, or combinations of glucose and fructose.

The results are published in the Journal of Nutrition.

"Our study shows for the first time the surprising speed with which humans make body fat from fructose," said Elizabeth Parks from the UT's Southwestern Medical Center.

"[Fructose, glucose and sucrose] can be made into triglycerides, a form of body fat; however, once you start the process of fat synthesis from fructose, it's hard to slow it down," she added.

However, Dr Parks was quick to point out that it is misleading to suggest the consumption of a specific food or food ingredient was the cause of obesity and the rise of type-2 diabetes.

"There are lots of people out there who want to demonize fructose as the cause of the obesity epidemic," she said. "I think it may be a contributor, but it's not the only problem. Americans are eating too many calories for their activity level. We're overeating fat, we're overeating protein; and we're over-eating all sugars," she said.

Study details

Parks and co-workers recruited four men and two women with an average age of 28, and an average BMI of 24.3 kg per sq. m. The volunteers consumed three soft drinks on three separate occasions; one was sweetened with 100 per cent glucose, the second with 50 per cent glucose and 50 per cent fructose, and the third with 25 per cent glucose and 75 per cent fructose. The tests were random and blinded.

The UT researchers report that lipogenesis increased from 7.8 per cent for the glucose beverage, to 15.9 per cent after the 50:50 beverage and 16.9 per cent after the 25:75 beverage.

Moreover, blood triglyceride levels were between 11 and 29 per cent higher after consumption of the 50:50 and 25:75 beverage, compared to the 100 per cent glucose drink.

"The message from this study is powerful because body fat synthesis was measured immediately after the sweet drinks were consumed," said Dr. Parks said. "The carbohydrates came into the body as sugars, the liver took the molecules apart like tinker toys, and put them back together to build fats. All this happened within four hours after the fructose drink. As a result, when the next meal was eaten, the lunch fat was more likely to be stored than burned.

"This is an underestimate of the effect of fructose because these individuals consumed the drinks while fasting and because the subjects were healthy, lean and could presumably process the fructose pretty quickly. Fat synthesis from sugars may be worse in people who are overweight or obese because this process may be already revved up," she added.

Metabolism of fructose

The metabolism of glucose and fructose is different, said the researchers. In humans, triglycerides are predominantly formed in the liver. This organ decides what to do when it encounters glucose. The sugar is either stored as glycogen, burnt for energy or turn the glucose into triglycerides.

On the other hand, fructose bypassing the liver and floods the metabolic pathway, said the researchers.

"It's a less-controlled movement of fructose through these pathways that causes it to contribute to greater triglyceride synthesis," said Parks. "The bottom line of this study is that fructose very quickly gets made into fat in the body."

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Cargill Higher Education Fund and the Sugar Association.

Well studied

Research from the University of Florida in 2005 reported similar results. In that instance the research implicated a rise in uric acid in the bloodstream that occurs after fructose is consumed. That temporary spike blocks the action of insulin, which typically regulates how body cells use and store sugar and other food nutrients for energy.

If uric acid levels are frequently elevated, over time features of metabolic syndrome may develop, including high blood pressure, obesity and elevated blood cholesterol levels.

"We cannot definitively state that fructose is driving the obesity epidemic," said researcher Richard Johnson, from UF's College of Medicine Johnson, in 2005. "But we can say that there is evidence supporting the possibility that it could have a contributory role - if not a major role."

Source: Journal of Nutrition
June 2008, Volume 138, Pages 1039-1046
"Dietary Sugars Stimulate Fatty Acid Synthesis in Adults"
Authors: E.J. Parks, L.E. Skokan, M.T. Timlin, C.S. Dingfelder

Jeremy Hawkins

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Energy drinks are a large emerging trend in our society today with global sales of $5 billion dollars in the last year. With our fast paced lifestyles, people are looking for that “something” that will give them that all-important "get up and go" mentality. Sadly, the majority of today’s energy drinks are packed full of sugar, artificial colors and flavors and unhealthy stimulants.

As you will see in the article below, a study now shows that consumers have another worry when drinking beverages such as soda and energy drinks - tooth erosion. The breakdown of tooth enamel is caused by the effect of sugar and acid on the teeth that leads to decay.

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Popular Energy Drinks Cause Tooth Erosion, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2008) — For more than 10 years, energy drinks in the United States have been on the rise, promising consumers more "oomph" in their day. In fact, it is estimated that the energy drink market will hit $10 billion by 2010. While that may be great news for energy drink companies, it could mean a different story for the oral health of consumers who sometimes daily rely on these drinks for that extra boost.

Previous scientific research findings have helped to warn consumers that the pH (potential of hydrogen) levels in beverages such as soda could lead to tooth erosion, the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth that leads to decay. The studies revealed that, whether diet or regular, ice tea or root beer, the acidity level in popular beverages that consumers drink every day contributes to the erosion of enamel.

However, in a recent study that appears in the November/December 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer reviewed journal, the pH level of soft drinks isn't the only factor that causes dental erosion. A beverage's "buffering capacity," or the ability to neutralize acid, plays a significant role in the cause of dental erosion.

The study examined the acidity levels of five popular beverages on the market. The results proved that popular "high energy" and sports drinks had the highest mean buffering capacity, resulting in the strongest potential for erosion of enamel.

According to the study, the popularity of energy drinks is on the rise, especially among adolescents and young adults. Their permanent teeth are more susceptible to attack from the acids found in soft drinks, due to the porous quality of their immature tooth enamel. As a result, there is high potential for erosion among this age demographic to increase.

In fact, Raymond Martin, DDS, MAGD, AGD spokesperson, says he treats more patients in their teens to 20s for tooth erosion. "They drink a great deal more sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks," he says. "The results, if not treated early and if extensive, can lead to very severe dental issues that would require full mouth rehabilitation to correct," says Dr. Martin.

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First of all, philosophy. Most energy drinks on the market today create a response by mega-dosing the system with high levels of unhealthy ingredients such as sugar and caffeine anhydrous. By attacking the central nervous system in such a manner, you will get a superficial, temporary surge of energy. The problem is, it only lasts for a little while, and the unhealthy jolt-and-crash cycle is hard on the body.

A.C.T.™ works on a completely different level as it has been designed to target metabolic pathways to create optimal balance and performance at the cellular level. As a result, the effect of the product can be felt for hours at a time. The goal with A.C.T.™ was to create the "World's First Healthy Energy Drink" that works "with" the body and not "against" it to get a superior result. We have accomplished that.

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Stress, Aging and Your Metabolism Is your coffee habit making you old before your time?

Stress is a normal part of life—especially in this day and age. It’s as if there is no shut off switch for incoming demands on your precious time. Seriously, how many of you find yourself checking e-mails at ungodly hours? Even our precious “so-called” down time is consumed by our constant availability by electronic means.

Everyone deals with stress in a slightly different manner. At the end of the day, all that matters is how you perceive the things around you, as perception always equals reality in the face of stress. In other words, when we go, go, go without enough downtime, or we constantly worry about things—most of which (thankfully) will never materialize—we create an unfavorable stress response that can actually rob us of our youth.

When your body perceives stress it releases specialized hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) as well as neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine) that help you deal with the stress until it subsides. This served your ancestors well going back thousands of years ago when they actually needed to fight or flee for their lives. Even though stress is a necessary part of your body’s defense system, the chemicals it produces can easily ware your body down if used continuously.

Almost anyone would agree that chronic stress ages people. The fact remains that until recently longevity scientists could only theorize as to why. The majority of our cells have a finite number of times they are able to divide. Every time these cells divide, they lose a small piece of DNA called a telomere. It is believed that the shortening of these telomeres is largely responsible for the aging process. In 2004, University of California researchers discovered that women who experienced the highest levels of perceived stress have telomeres that are much shorter than women who experience low stress. The researches concluded that these shortened telomeres were equivalent to at least one decade of additional aging.

Our hectic lifestyles and constant worrying are far from the only culprits when it comes to stress. The majority of people today unwittingly aggravate their stress response by consuming too many caffeinated beverages—especially coffee.

The type of caffeine found in coffee has been shown to elevate stress hormones —over and above the body’s natural response—for many hours after consumption. Researchers from Duke University published a study in 2002, showing that the stress hormones elevated by daily (moderate) caffeine consumption caused blood pressure elevations and increases in stress reactivity that could contribute to an increased risk of coronary heart disease in the adult population.

One of the biggest culprits in premature aging can be witnessed in the constant rise of the powerful stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol can impede a healthy metabolism by degrading muscle tissue (the metabolic engine of the body) and according to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, loss of lean body mass (i.e. muscle) is the number one reason we prematurely age. As indicated, too much caffeine can over stimulate cortisol, possibly contributing to muscle wasting.

As you are now aware, excess stress can easily speed the aging process and in turn make you fat. Since most individuals these days are susceptible to high levels of stress, it would be wise to at least lower your consumption of unhealthy caffeine containing beverages.

Aside from drinking less coffee, nature has also provided us with supplemental options (referred to as recuperatives and adaptogens) that can significantly help strengthen our bodies against the negative affects of stress. The MetaboWize PM formula contains a powerful combination of these nutrients also ACT Energy Drink.


Thanks
Jeremy Hawkins

References

Epel ES, et al. Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Dec 7;101(49):17312-5.

Lane JD. Neuroendocrine responses to caffeine in the work environment. Psychosom Med. 1994 May-Jun;56(3):267-70.

Lovallo, W.R., et al. Stress-like adrenocorticotropin responses to caffeine in young healthy men. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. 1996 Nov;55(3):365-9.

Lane JD, et al. Caffeine affects cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activation at work and home.
Psychosom Med. 2002 Jul-Aug;64(4):595-603.

Ravaglia G. Determinants of functional status in healthy Italian nonagenarians and centenarians: a comprehensive functional assessment by the instruments of geriatric practice. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997 Oct;45(10):1196-202.

8 Foods That Fight Fat By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 3:32 pm PDT

Want to lose weight as you chow down? Your wish is granted! (I promise, this is no fairy tale.) Your supermarket is filled with foods that studies show have lipid-melting powers to help melt fat and keep you slim. Stock up on these fat-fighting super bites, and you'll be trimmer even as you indulge. Read on to discover the eight foods that deserve a permanent spot in your fridge—and in your diet!

Almonds These yummy nuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can accelerate your metabolism of fats. In fact, dieters who ate 3 ounces of almonds daily slashed their weight and body-mass index by 18 percent, while those who skipped the nuts reduced both numbers less— just 11 percent—a study in the International Journal of Obesity revealed. Chomp almonds à la carte (limit yourself to 12 per serving to keep calories in check). I get a pack at Starbucks and nibble throughout my day. Or sprinkle them into a recipe such as Black Bean–Almond Pesto Chicken. Go nuts!

Berries I tell my daughter, "These are nature's candy!" Turns out they're also your body's best friends. Strawberries, raspberries and other vitamin C–spiked fruit can supercharge your workout, helping you burn up to 30 percent more fat, research from Arizona State University at Mesa has found. If they're not in season, buy the little gems frozen in a bulk-sized bag so you'll always have them on hand to whip up a Berry Bliss Smoothie or Strawberry-Sunflower Pops, regardless of whether berries are in season.

Cinnamon Adding 1/4 teaspoon to your plate may prevent an insulin spike—an uptick that tells your body to store fat. Sprinkle it on your morning cereal or coffee or on your yogurt in the A.M., or savor it in Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal.

Mustard It's heaven on a soft pretzel, but mustard may also be a weight loss wonder. Turmeric, the spice that gives mustard its color, may slow the growth of fat tissues, a study in the journal Endocrinology finds. Use it on sandwiches instead of mayo, or sprinkle turmeric on cauliflower pre-roasting to give it a kick. Try it on tuna salad—I promise it adds zest.

Oranges This citrus fruit, which contains fat-blasting compounds known as flavones, deserves to be your main squeeze. Women who ate the most flavones had a much lower increase in body fat over a 14-year period, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. Eat oranges sliced or swig fresh OJ (including pulp!) to get the best benefit from the fruit.

Soybeans Reason to toss a half cup on your salad? Soybeans are rich in choline, a compound that blocks the absorption of fat and breaks down fatty deposits. Oh, and they're addictively delish! But if breast cancer runs in your family, experts suggest you should talk to your doc before adding soy to your diet.

Sweet potatoes The colorful spuds' high-fiber content means they keep your insulin steadier than their white sisters, which means less fat packed on your hips, research finds. Top a small baked tater with lowfat cottage cheese for a tempting side dish, or whip up Miso Soup With Sweet Potato Dumplings.

Swiss cheese Calcium-rich foods reduce fat-producing enzymes and increase fat breakdown, and Swiss has more calcium than many of its cheesy peers. Choose the reduced-fat variety, such as Sargento. Slip it into your sandwich, put it on top of high-fiber crackers or use it for a healthier grilled cheese. Yum!

Enjoy
Jeremy Hawkins

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Specialty Proteins - the Secret to a Healthy Metabolism

What if I told you there was a quick and easy way to turbo charge your metabolism?

By the way, for those of you who let your membership to the health club expire, this particular method does not involve exercise! Although after you learn and use this secret you may be breaking down the door to your nearest health club.

With the ever-growing trend in obesity, nearly two-thirds of our adult population will try to lose weight by attempting a fad diet. The problem is that for every pound of body fat (the only weight worth losing) lost on unbalanced fad diets there is also a loss of nearly one pound of muscle tissue. At the completion of the diet, most people experience what I call, “The Smaller Fat Person Syndrome,” a condition that refers to a person of lesser weight with a high body fat percentage.

Any way you look at it, muscle cells dictate how many calories you burn over a 24-hour period (referred to as your resting metabolic rate or RMR). If you do not maintain muscle cell activity while losing weight, you will end up degrading your metabolic engines and fat loss will come to a screeching halt—period!

Research presented in the prestigious Journal of Nutrition showed that by adding high quality proteins to the diet, people can maintain muscle mass while reducing body fat during weight loss. The study looked at protein foods that provided optimal levels of an essential amino acid called leucine. Leucine is one of a group of three amino acids called the branched chain amino acids or BCAAs that help regulate muscle growth and activity — essential to maintaining an effective metabolic rate. BCAAs are so important to muscularity and metabolism that one-third of our skeletal muscle is comprised of them.

Since our bodies do not produce essential amino acids such as BCAAs, we rely on a constant supply from outside sources such as beef, dairy products (especially whey), poultry, fish and eggs. Dr. Donald Layman, professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois where the above study was conducted said, “Traditionally, people have built a diet around low-fat foods, instead of high quality protein foods. Study participants following the moderately high protein plan, were twice as effective in maintaining lean muscle mass.”

References:

Layman DK. The role of leucine in weight loss diets and glucose homeostasis. J Nutr. 2003 Jan;133(1):261S-267S.

Shimomura Y., et al. Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise. J Nutr. 2004 Jun;134(6 Suppl):1583S-1587S.

King, B., The Science of Feeling Great, alive magazine, issue #295, May 2007

Markus CR, et al. Evening intake of alpha-lactalbumin increases plasma tryptophan availability and improves morning alertness and brain measures of attention. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1026-33.

Markus CR, Olivier B, de Haan EH. Whey protein rich in alpha-lactalbumin increases the ratio of plasma tryptophan to the sum of the other large neutral amino acids and improves cognitive performance in stress-vulnerable subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:1051–6.

Bouthegourd JC, et al. A preexercise alpha-lactalbumin-enriched whey protein meal preserves lipid oxidation and decreases adiposity in rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Sep;283(3):E565-72.



Jeremy Hawkins