Even though an apple might have up to half the sugar of a 12-oz can of Coca-Cola, somehow it affects my body completely differently.
From a Coke, you feel the stimulation and then the drop in energy afterwards.
An apple just makes me feel good. There's no over-stimulation like sugar, and no drop in energy afterwards.
It's well known that the body processes sugars in foods very differently (sodas, honey, fruits, etc.). Unfortunately, not much is known about why or how, from what I know.
But something to keep in mind: humans have been eating fruits, presumably as long as we've existed. Drinks and desserts with concentrated cane sugar is a new thing. It wouldn't be surprising if evolution has adapted us well to the former (in moderation), but not that latter.
Yes, it is harder to overeat or get addicted on natural fresh fruits, and there's less of a negative effect. But if you do, you're still back to square one: significant insulin spikes, a tendency to turn those calories to fat just like pure sugar, and some of the detrimental health effects mentioned in the article.
You mentioned honey, and I don't know which group you assigned it to, but many people make this mistake: honey is "natural", but it is every bit as pure and unhealthy a sugar as high fructose corn syrup, or similar.
Definitely not -- a Coke stimulates for maybe an hour, then leaves you with less energy for around an hour. Like everything else with lots of processed sugar.
Whereas caffeine stimulates for several hours, and I never feel less energy afterwards with caffeine.
From a Coke, you feel the stimulation and then the drop in energy afterwards.
An apple just makes me feel good. There's no over-stimulation like sugar, and no drop in energy afterwards.
It's well known that the body processes sugars in foods very differently (sodas, honey, fruits, etc.). Unfortunately, not much is known about why or how, from what I know.
But something to keep in mind: humans have been eating fruits, presumably as long as we've existed. Drinks and desserts with concentrated cane sugar is a new thing. It wouldn't be surprising if evolution has adapted us well to the former (in moderation), but not that latter.