Is Sugar in Fruit Better?

The types of sugar found naturally in fruit are processed by our body in the exact same ways as the white mound you spoon into your morning coffee. The difference is the "sugar delivery system" if you will. For example, the sugars in an apple are encapsulated by the plant-cell walls, says David Ludwig, MD., Phd., director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children's Hospital.

It takes time for the body to break down the fruit, so the sugars get into your system slowly and don't cause a spike in blood sugar (Glucose) levels that triggers the body to pump out large amount of ininsulin. By contrast , added sugars that are not an intrinsic part of food cause a blood sugar spike because they are digested quickly. This can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain. Fruit juice by the way , is almost as bad. Though its sugars naturally come from the fruit, they are no longer "bound," so they are digested quickly

What's more, we'd have to eat six navel oranges to get the amount of sugar (71 grams) in one 20-ounce bottle of orange Crush soda. And fruit provides antioxidants, fiber, vitamins minerals, and other healthy compounds