The next time you are at the supermarket consider leaving the apple and orange juice on the shelf. New research says that fructose found in fruit juices and other processed foods makes you fat.
New studies show that fructose dramatically enhances ipogenesis, the process by which the body converts sugar into fat. One particular study found that people who consumed a breakfast drink, which contained high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), produced double the body fat in the four-hour period that followed than those who consumed a glucose-only beverage.
For those of you who have considered fasting to shed unwanted pounds (perhaps the ones gained by drinking fruit juices), it appears you may not be damaging your body as much as previously thought.
Scientists are now saying intermittent fasting not only helps people lose weight, but it can also reduce the risk of some diseases and even extend life.
Dr. Marc Hellerstein, a professor of endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at UC Berkeley, says moderate fasting (one day a week or cutting back on calories a couple of days a week) can yield health benefits for most anybody. Hellerstein points to studies, which show that occasionally going without food or reducing calories makes the body more sensitive to insulin, which helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. Experts say these studies also suggest calorie restriction may reduce the risk of cancer by slowing the growth of abnormal cells.
However, not all nutritionists see the merits of fasting. Some think of it as a recipe for disaster that can lead to binge eating and metabolic dysfunction. Leaders at the American Dietetic Assn., say fasting causes people to become hungry, fatigued, and irritable. What’s more, people who fast often cut back one day and the next day they overeat because they are so hungry.
Have you ever tried fasting? If so, what kind of results did experience?
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