High Fructose Corn Syrup

HFCS, and sugar, have both been shown to drive inflammation in the body, which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.We have all heard about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the effects of it on our health.  We’ve even seen the lengths the corn industry will go spending millions on commercials trying to convince us this product is safe.  But ….

What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

• Simply put, HFCS is a liquid sweetener.  As the name implies, HFCS comes from corn, not sugarcane or sugar beets.
• It was created in the late 1960s and has found its way into hundreds and hundreds of processed foods.
• It is popular among food manufacturers because it’s cheaper than sugar.
• According to a commentary in the April 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, between 1970 and 1990, the consumption of HFCS increased over 1,000 percent {source: diabeteshealth.com}
• It can increase insulin resistance.
• HFCS foods are almost always a marker for low quality, nutrient depleted, processed foods.

How are Fructose and Glucose Metabolized?

HFCS is a blend of  glucose and fructose (the amounts vary depending on the product).  The liver has 2 choices when it comes across glucose.  Convert it into triglycerides or store it as fat.

When the liver encounters glucose, it decides whether the body needs to store it, burn it for energy or turn it into triglycerides. Whereas, the fructose seems to bypass the process and go straight to fat.

A Texas study found just that in 2008.  The study appears in the Journal of Nutrition, and shows how the body converts fructose “with surprising speed”.  It found that glucose and fructose are metabolized differently. {source: Parker-Pope}

What to do:

• Be a label reader and avoid foods that are heavily processed.
• If HFCS is listed as one of the main ingredients, make another choice.
• Take the time and educate yourself on spotting the worst culprits like soda, fruit juices, syrups, canned fruits, condiments, cereals.
• Jillian Michaels was right when she said ” if it doesn’t have a mother or come from the ground, don’t eat it!”  The more fresh, real food you eat the less you will be consuming products with HFCS in them.