The increasing use of high-fructose corn syrup as an artificial sweetener has been linked to the obesity epidemic and kidney disease. In the industrial preparation process, in which some glucose molecules are converted into fructose, a specific...
Enzymes are special types of protein that your body uses to initiate its basic chemical reactions. Without enzyme activity, most of these reactions would not occur fast enough to sustain human life. Three specific examples of enzyme usage in your...
Fructose is a monosaccharide, or a type of sugar formed by a single molecule, that is naturally present in varying amounts in all fruits. Fructose is also found as a dissacharide in table sugar, bound to glucose, and other sweeteners like...
Vitamin B-9, also known as folate or folic acid, and vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, are nutrients required in the diet. Vitamins are typically needed by enzymes in order to function properly, and they must be ingested. Enzymes are like...
High fructose corn syrup is a common sweetener found in everything from baked goods to sodas. It has become such a popular ingredient due to its ability to lengthen the shelf life of the products its used in. Although the ingredient is popular, it...
Watermelon is a hydrating fruit that is a refreshing snack during summer and early fall. If you have certain allergies, however, you may be susceptible to developing a watermelon allergy. Watermelon allergy is often associated with ragweed pollen....
Cheap sweetener is a staple of the processed foods industry--it's used in products as diverse as stuffing and soft drinks. The cheapest of the cheap sweeteners are corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, both of which are derivatives of a type of...
If you've been thinking of buying high-ribose foods, you can tuck your wallet back into your pocket. Your body makes all the ribose it needs. While ribose supplements appear on health food store shelves, there is no indication that they do...
The pink flesh, dark brown to black seeds and green rind of the watermelon make it an unmistakable symbol of summertime picnics. The fruit ranges from the size of a bowling ball to the giant-sized oblong watermelons sold in grocery stores. Some...
Writer Mark Twain once said, "When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what angels eat." Whether watermelon is heavenly is up for debate, but no question remains as to the nutritional value -- it is high in vitamin C and serves as a source of...
Corn syrup is a caloric sweetener composed of three different sugars: maltose, glucose and dextrose. Manufacturers use corn syrup as a sweetener in carbonated beverages, baked foods and some canned foods. Because corn syrup contains glucose, it is...
Amylase is the general name used to identify certain types of a specialized protein molecule called an enzyme. Enzymes speed up the basic chemical reactions that support life. Amylase, in particular, supports the chemical reactions that allow you...
Sugars represent a subgroup of a broad class of compounds known as carbohydrates. Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with a 2:1 hydrogen to oxygen ratio. Plants produce carbohydrates during photosynthesis and the cells of living...
Cornstarch is a plant carbohydrate used commercially in the manufacture of foods and drugs, paper products and animal feeds. High-fructose corn syrup is a food product made from cornstarch that serves as a sweetening agent in the food and beverage...
Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits and honey. It's also part of the composition of a popular yet controversial sweetener known as high-fructose corn syrup. You might have heard the term "high fructose" bandied about by public...
Fruit and vegetables are important for a variety of reasons and are certainly very healthy for your body. They help everything from your eyesight to your skin to your heart. Fruit and vegetables come in a wide array of choices and each hold their...
