What is Fructose?
Fructose is also called fruit sugar and is commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Fructose belongs to a group called ketose. Sucrose has a fructose molecule joined with a glucose molecule with the help of a glycosidic bond. Fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver. It is also used for energy production but at a slower rate than glucose. Fructose is commonly used as a sweetener in many processed foods and drinks, such as soda and candy, due to its sweet taste and low cost.
Uses of Fructose
Various uses of Fructose are mentioned below:
- Fructose is used as the flavouring agent.
- Fructose is the main ingredient for various Juices and Energy drinks.
- Fructose is also used in the manufacturing of candies, cookies, etc.
Difference Between Glucose And Fructose
Glucose and Fructose are both carbohydrates and simple monosaccharide sugars that are required by the human body for its regular metabolism activities. Both glucose and fructose are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Glucose is created by breaking down disaccharides or polysaccharides, which are larger sugar molecules. And, fructose is found in its simplest form in fruits and vegetables like beets, corn, and potatoes. Before proceeding further let’s learn in brief about Monosaccharide, and Disaccharides
Monosaccharide: The basic form of sugar is called a monosaccharide, this is the sugar that provides energy to the human body for performing various activities. Examples of monosaccharides are Glucose and Fructose.
Disaccharides: Molecules formed by the joining of two or more monosaccharides are called disaccharides or double sugar. Examples of disaccharides are Sucrose, Maltose, and Lactose.