You’ve probably seen the new commercials that imply that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is no worse for you than sugar. The Corn Growers Association wants you to believe that HFCS has the “same natural sweeteners as table sugar and honey.” In reality, nothing could be further from the truth! Don’t fall for it. HFCS is highly processed and does not exist anywhere in nature and has definite damaging effects on your health. Just because the characters in the commercial have heard that HFCS is bad for your health but don’t know why does not mean that HFCS gets a clean bill of health. It’s all part of a major (20-30 Million dollar ) marketing campaign from the Corn Refiners Association. It is their desperate response to the increasing public perception of the dangers of HFCS. So let’s not be as clueless as the people in the commercials. The following are reasons that HFCS is an unhealthy choice:
Refined man-made fructose like HFCS metabolizes to triglycerides and adipose tissue, not blood glucose. Because of this fact, insulin secretion is not stimulated. Whereas consumption of sugar (glucose) causes a release of insulin to help the body use and store the glucose, your body is left wondering what to do with this foreign substance (HFCS). Also, leptin is not produced when HFCS is consumed. (Leptin is a hormone thought to be involved in appetite regulation.) Since this regulation does not exist, dietary fructose may contribute to increased food intake and weight gain. So the bottom line….and it’s a big one….HFCS inhibits certain hormones that help to regulate appetite and fat storage.
Fructose is also known to significantly raise your triglyceride levels and your LDL or bad cholesterol levels. Elevated blood levels of triglycerides and LDL puts you at an increased risk of heart disease.
Soft drinks sweetened with HFCS may contribute to the development of diabetes because it contains high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown to trigger cell and tissue damage that cause diabetes. The number one source of calories in the US is high fructose corn syrup…..mostly from soda consumption.
In HFCS production, a dozen different chemical processes and enzyme reactions turn a corn kernel’s glucose molecules into fructose, which is then added to regular corn syrup. In a recent study, almost half of the high-fructose corn syrup tested contained mercury, most probably related to the chemicals used in processing.
HFCS is almost always made from genetically modified corn, which is associated with its own well documented side effects and health concerns, the least of which is increasing your risk of developing a food allergy to corn.
So now you know. The next time someone tells you that HFCS is not a problem, you can set them straight. Again, as with anything else, a little HFCS in your diet will not cause any major problems. But remember that HFCS is very widely used and it is the cumulative effect that should be considered. In fact, when you start to read labels, you will realize how pervasive this sweetener is. And to say “it’s everywhere!” is not an exaggeration.










