This kind of sugar may trigger cravings

A new study suggests fructose may trigger cravings. Photo Thinkstock

We're often told to reach for an apple when craving something sweet, but new research suggests fructose, found naturally in fruit, may increase our cravings for high-kilojoule foods.

The small-scale study published in the journal PNA found that fructose, most commonly ingested as an added sweetened in processed food, was associated with activity in parts of the brain that processes rewards. During the study, volunteers were asked to consume drinks that were sweetened with fructose on one day, and glucose-sweetened drinks on another day, before being asked to report their hunger levels.

Gallery: 11 weird things sugar does to your body

Gallery: 11 weird things sugar does to your body

Glucose is the main sugar circulating in our blood stream, and the sugar used to fuel our cells. Fructose is mainly processed in the liver and isn’t involved in the stimulation of hormones like insulin, which let you know you’re full.

The 24 study participants were then show images of high-calories foods including lollies, cookies, hamburgers and pizza and asked to report how hungry they were. Brain scans revealed that participants felt hungrier and showed greater activity in sections of the brain associated with rewards after drinking the fructose-sweetened drink.

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“These findings suggest that ingestion of fructose relative to glucose results in greater activation of brain regions involved in attention and reward processing and may promote feeding,” the study authors wrote.

While this study sample is small, authors believe it suggests fructose has less appetite suppressing effects than glucose.

So does this mean you should give up fruit? Absolutely not. Compared to processed foods and soft drinks, it has a relatively low amount of sugar. If you’re looking for a snack option that’s going to help you tame those cravings, try these 12 sugar smart snacks under 200 calories.

Watch: This is what happens when you give up sugar.

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12 sugar smart snacks under 200 calories