The 'logic' of blending/mashing fruit?!

Hi there,

Since starting Slimming World in 2010 I've always wondered about the supposed logic of blended or mashed fruit needing to be synned. I just cannot see how blending etc can alter the nutritional value, or sugar composition of the fruit in a way that would introduce syns. It just isn't biochemically possible. In addition, as we all know, the digestive system has to mash up the food before it can be broken down anyway, so what's the difference?

Can anyone who goes to a group explain what consultants actually say about blending fruit as I've never been and I'm trying to work out what information or research Slimming World uses to support this theory.

Thanks,

Sian xx


P.S. I love Slimming World, so please don't think I'm having a go at anybody!

It doesn't change the nutritional value but makes it easier to overeat. Lets say you make a smoothie with 2 bananas and a handful of strawberries... You can drink it fairly quickly and it isn't very filling... Eat the same amount as food and it takes you longer to eat and is usually more filling.

This is true. I can understand why smoothies are synned on this basis, but I'm wondering about instances where people mash up one banana where they would normally eat that one banana...I'd really begrudge synning one banana just because it's mashed up, when the digestive system does this anyway.

I don't think I'll ever understand the logic, lol! xx

dudette2001uk said:

This is true. I can understand why smoothies are synned on this basis, but I'm wondering about instances where people mash up one banana where they would normally eat that one banana...I'd really begrudge synning one banana just because it's mashed up, when the digestive system does this anyway.

I don't think I'll ever understand the logic, lol! xx

Click to expand...

My consultant would say as long as you're only eating the one banana and no more then dont syn it. I personally like banana done in foil on a barbecued which would technically be synned but since i only eat one I don't syn it.

It's about finding what works for you... A woman in our group as a smoothie every morning that he doesn't syn and she still loses really well but knows if she were to stop losing that her smoothies are one of the areas she should cut out or start synning... Hope that makes sense.

Thanks hun As I said, I can understand the reasoning behind synning juices and smoothies due to the amount of calories they contain for how short a time you remain satisfied afterwards.

As a biochemist I was just wondering what science Slimming World uses regarding mashing or pureeing one or two portions of fruit

In the words of Toyah Wilcox...it's a mystery! xx

You may only be eating one banana but it is less filling in that form so you even if you are not overeating, you eat again soon and so take in more calories. I saw a programme recently where one group of volunteers ate whole fruit for breakfast while the other drank the smoothie. Overall the second group took in 350+ more calories a day than the group that ate the food whole.

Here is something I have copied and pasted from a FB group I'm in - dont know if its true but it makes sense to me

Hi all, as a student nurse, with a specialism in nutrition, I thought I'd explain something. I am
By no means telling you what to do, but what with all the debate about blended/mashed and cooked fruit, I thought we should have a small biology lesson. Use the information as you wish, discard it if you would like to, and if you're already doing something that work doe you don't change it, I just thought it would be interesting xxx or maybe I'm an utter Saudi lol

... Fruit is high in a natural sugar called fructose, which is fine until you realise this by blending, mashing or cooking ... Fructose is a high energy sugar which passes across the cell wall of the small intestine far too fast. The absorption of fructose in this speedy way causes a blood sugar level spike (you get lots of energy in one boost) the problem is it depletes quickly too and causes a blood sugar dip, thus making you feel hungry again, so you eat. Whilst you eat your pancreas det...ects a dip in blood sugar and releases a hormone called 'glucagon' ... Glucagon then travels to the liver to unlock another hormone called glycogen which converts to glucose in the blood thus giving you energy. The problem with this happening is you have already consumed new calories and your body works to break those down and the new glucose is then stored as fat on the body for the next blood sugar dip, thus resulting in over indulgence of calories.

Also with fruit being a high carbohydrate food, the chewing action of the mouth and the release of glucose and fructose stimulates an enzyme called salivary amylase, this enzyme starts to break down long molecules of sugar into simpler forms of sugar (thus carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth) also the detection of sugar molecules in the mouth causes a signal to be sent to the brain 'I am eating' and so your appetite cut off kicks in once your body has sufficient nutrients, when you blend or mash, the fruit leaves the mouth to quickly and thus the appetite suppressant action of the salivary amylase does not kick in, and so you can potentially over indulge in calories.

This does not happen with veg, veg has very trace amounts of fructose and is low carb so does not start to be digested until it hits the stomach where hydrochloric acid breaks it down and passes it to the small intestine where yet more clever enzymes start to take up nutrients.

I hope this helps people understand better why fruit needs to be synned when it's natural composition is changed.

WOW thanks Jen3 - that kinda explains it really well now I understand, shame I love smoothies although haven't had any since I started SW