Fructose in everyday foods is driving chronic disease, new research finds

New research confirms that fructose, a sugar found in table sugar and many processed foods, is a key driver of chronic diseases, affecting the brain, liver, and waistline. Scientists found it triggers different brain responses than glucose, increasing hunger and disease susceptibility. The June study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center compared fructose and glucose, finding that despite equal calories, the brain processes them via separate gut-brain pathways, leading to anger and hunger. In the UK, table sugar is 50% fructose, and it is also prevalent in fizzy drinks, granola, ketchup, and sweetened yoghurts. Experts warn that overconsumption of fructose, which appears in everyday items from ketchup to granola, is fast-tracking people to chronic ill health. This growing body of scientific knowledge highlights fructose as a particularly harmful component of the modern diet.