Glucose is a simple sugar carbohydrate found in a variety of foods, including blackberries. The word "glucose" is often used interchangeably with the word "sugar." For example, blood glucose and blood sugar. Your blood glucose levels measure the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. Because blackberries contain sugar carbohydrates, consuming them will cause your blood glucose levels to rise.
Nutritional Information
Blackberries, like all fruits, contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates include three types: sugar, starch and fiber. Blackberries are high in sugar and fiber, but do not contain any starch. One cup of fresh blackberries contains 7.03 g of total sugar carbohydrate, and 7.6 g of fiber. Sugar can be broken up into two categories: naturally occurring sugar and added sugar. The sugar found in fruit is naturally occurring, whereas processed foods may contain added sugars such as granulated sugar, high fructose corn syrup or molasses.
Blood Glucose
Your blood glucose levels are affected by sugar and starch carbohydrates. After you consume a food, it travels to your stomach in order to be digested. Through the process of digestion sugar and starch carbohydrates are broken down into the simplest of sugar molecules. Once the carbohydrates are converted into sugar molecules, they pass through the lining of your stomach and get absorbed into your bloodstream, causing your blood glucose levels to rise. Fiber is a unique carbohydrate in that it does not affect your blood glucose levels. Fiber, unlike sugar and starch, is not converted into sugar molecules. Instead, fiber passes through your body, undigested.
Fiber
The glucose in blackberries helps supply your body with the sugar. Sugar is your body's main source of energy, helping to fuel your cells so they can function properly. Fiber does not provide your body with sugar; however, it plays an essential role in your diet. Fiber helps promote your heart and digestive health. Women should consume approximately 25 g of fiber daily; men should consume approximately 38 g of fiber daily. Blackberries are an excellent source of fiber, as are other types of berries such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.
Considerations
In general, adults should consume between 225 g and 325 g of total carbohydrates, daily. Persons with insulin resistance should closely monitor their carbohydrate intake. In healthy individuals, your body uses the hormone insulin in order to regulate your blood glucose levels. But if you have insulin resistance, your body does not respond to the effects of insulin, so your body has difficulty regulating your blood glucose levels.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Nutrition and Healthy Eating -- Glycemic Index Diet: Losing Weight with Blood Sugar Control, Nov. 24, 2009
- United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database
- American Diabetes Association: Food and Fitness -- Carbohydrates
- American Dietetic Association, Eat Right: Health Implications of Dietary Fiber, 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Healthy Eating -- High-Fiber Foods; Nov. 19, 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Healthy Eating -- Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork with these Nutrition Guidelines; Feb. 22, 2011
