The sweet life

A small study using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, has suggested that fructose, a type of sugar, can trigger brain changes that may lead to overeating.

According to a story published by The Associated Press, the study showed that after drinking a beverage containing high-fructose corn syrup, the brain doesn't register the feeling of being full as it does when simple glucose is consumed, researchers found.

Imaging results mirrored how hungry the people said they felt. The study was not large enough to draw absolute conclusions.

Many believe that the country's enormous consumption of fructose is directly related to the obesity problem.

Researchers now are testing obese people to see if they react the same way to fructose as normal-weight people.

As a general rule, it's healthier to stay away from the high-fructose corn syrup as a regular staple in your eating and drinking. For example, sodas are loaded with empty calories and sugars. Regardless of the study, if you're drinking nothing but sodas every day, it's a good way to gain weight; there's no benefit to your body. If the study proves to be true, then that sugar has a double-negative effect in that it limits your body's function of telling you when to stop eating.

As with so many things in life, moderation is the key. With so many people making resolutions for healthier lifestyles this time of year, one thing to examine is the amount, and type, of sugar you're consuming.

Here's to your health.