This is a guest post by Jaime A. Heidel.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you might think you have to avoid all types of sugar. Not necessarily true. Believe it or not, there’s a real difference between the natural sugars that can be found in fruit versus the sugar you’ll find in processed food. Let’s take a look at the difference a little more in depth.
High Fructose Corn Syrup – Your Waistline’s Worst Enemy
High fructose corn syrup has gotten a bad rap lately and with good reason. Despite what recent commercials are trying to lead you to believe, all sugar is not the same and your body can tell the difference.
The difference between the sugar in fruit and the sugar in processed foods can be boiled down to two sentences: The sugar found in fruit is bound to fiber, which the body will process at a slow, natural pace. The sugar (high fructose corn syrup) in processed snack is not bound to fiber and is processed too quickly, causing a sudden sugar spike.
The high glycemic levels in high fructose corn syrup leads to chronic high insulin levels, which can contribute to the development of diabetes. The artificial sweetener also tricks the brain into constantly believing the body is hungry and causes a craving for sweet, high-fat foods.
Not helpful for anyone trying to get healthy and lose weight.
The Big Fruit Juice Scam
You may think drinking a nice, cold glass of orange juice offers you the same nutritional content as a fresh orange. Unfortunately, you’d be mistaken. Recently, Tropicana was sued by a consumer for false advertising. The lawsuit states Tropicana’s claim that their orange juice is “pure and natural” is completely false. Tests have proved the juice, which can sit in a vat for over a year, is tainted with chemical additives designed to duplicate a “fresh squeezed” taste.
Another unfortunate problem with bottled fruit juice is the dangerous preservatives, additives and food dyes they often contain. This leaves little real nutritional value to be gained from them.
The Best Fruit for Weight Loss
Fruit is much healthier when juiced at home or consumed whole. Here is a list of five fruits that can help you lose weight:
Prunes
Sweet, tart and portable, prunes make the perfect mid-morning snack. In addition to being packed with health-promoting antioxidants, they’re loaded with fiber to regulate your digestive system and keep you fuller longer.
Apples
Combating stubborn belly fat just got a bit easier. According to research, woman who consumed 3 apples per day as part of a whole-food diet plan enjoyed a slimmer waistline. Packed with fiber and essential vitamins, an apple a day can keep the beach cover-up away.
Pineapple
Eating a diet high in processed food can slow digestion and impeded the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to a feeling of constant hunger. Pineapple is not only a tasty snack, it can help improve your digestion naturally, leading to easier weight loss.
Apricot
Having a handful of dried apricots on hand can help curb that mid-afternoon urge to visit the vending machine. Loaded with filling fiber and vitamins, apricot is the perfect fat-fighting snack for the office or the road.
Avocado
Despite what you may believe, not all fat is bad for you. If you completely deprive your body of fat while trying to lose weight, you’ll feel like you’re starving all the time. This will raise the likelihood of giving in to temptation. Avocado is filled with monounsaturated fat (good fat), which actually increases your metabolism. Slice some up and add them to your salad and you’ll feel fuller longer.
Now that you know there is a real difference between the sugars in fruit versus processed snacks, you can make healthier choices regarding your nutritional and weight-loss goals!
Like This Post? Give me the thumbs up 
