High Fructose Corn Syrup Is Bad

High Fructose Corn Syrup – A Sweet Addictive Ingredient In Foods That Should Be Avoided

By Elena Marculescu

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an additive in food processing. Added to many of today’s processed foods and drinks, it has become ubiquitous. HFCS has flooded America’s food industry since the 1970. HFCS is made from government subsidized corn. It is cheaper than sugar and has made its way into foods where nobody would expect it.

High fructose corn syrup is addictive, stimulating an over eating mechanism in the human body. It holds moisture, therefore it has become a valuable preservative that will extend the shelf life of processed food.

Health risks associated with fructose appear to be dose dependent, according to John Yudkin (physiologist, scientist, professor at the University of London) and other nutritionists. The public’s misperceptions about HFCS, based on the fact that is a natural product made from corn, has led to over consumption of foods that contain it.

Fructose contained in HFCS alters the body’s natural ability to regulate appetite. It interacts with hormones including insulin, leptin and gherlin in a way that leads to obesity (Swan, Norman; Lustig, Robert H. “ABS Radio National, The Health report, The Obesity Epidemic” -2007).

Fundamentally, fructose has a negative impact on insulin and leptin and a positive one on gherlin with an unmistakable result translated in a false, greater hunger.
Fructose is metabolized in a totally different way than glucose. Glucose is metabolized and burned in the cells. Fructose, assisted by transport proteins, travels freely into the blood stream, goes to the liver and is metabolized like fat. Fructose excess in foods generates excess of fat in the liver and in the blood stream.

The human body’s metabolic pathways are not designed for a diet high in fructose and HFCS has been linked to the American obesity epidemic. Recent medical research shows that there is a strong correlation between HFCS consumption and obesity, diabetes and heart disease. A diet high in refined cane sugar or in foods containing HFCS are equally generating too many calories. A healthy diet with predominantly natural foods is low in fructose.

Avoid HFCS by following these easy steps:

- Read labels and eliminate consumption of foods that list HFCS among the first five ingredients;

- Avoid excessive caloric intake and balance consumed calories against expended ones;

- Stay away from processed foods;

- Buy organic foods;

- Follow a healthy diet that replaces refined sugars with honey and fruit;

- Eat lots of vegetables and drink plenty of water.