High fructose corn syrup has become the bad-boy ingredient in American society, blamed for the increase in diabetes, obesity, and other food-related illnesses in children and adults. But is high fructose corn syrup really that bad? What are the high fructose corn syrup health cons?
Read the nutrition label of almost any processed food, and you’ll find high fructose corn syrup.
Cane sugar – what we refer to as “table sugar” – is made of 50% sucrose and 50% fructose that is bound together and comes from sugar cane. High fructose corn syrup is about the same ratio of fructose and sucrose, but it can be manipulated to be sweeter than sugar because the sucrose and fructose are mixed instead of bound together.
What does this chemistry have to do with our health?
Basically, if it looks like sugar and tastes like sugar, then – well, it’s sugar. And daily consumption of sugar in any form is known to cause obesity and health problems like diabetes. If you eat too much sugar, chances are that you’re taking in too many calories and this can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, a variety of dental problems, and heart disease as well as other food-related health issues.
It’s Cheap to Process in the United States
High fructose corn syrup became a regular part of the American foodscape in the 1970s, when the federal government began subsidizing corn, making it really cheap to produce. Around the same time, the government imposed tariffs on imports of conventional sugar, which made it more expensive to buy and use in processed products. Manufacturers quickly adapted, using the more stable high fructose corn syrup in processed food products while developing generous profit margins.
Since high fructose corn syrup remains so inexpensive to produce, serving sizes of processed foods have grown considerably while prices have remained low. For example, a king-sized candy bar is considered a “great value” because it’s less expensive than the regular-size candy bar, but it increases the amount of calories consumed. These situations condition us to eat more, increasing our chances of food-related illness.
Knowing When To Say When
Unfortunately, high fructose corn syrup is everywhere, and not just in foods that are considered “sweets.” You can find high fructose corn syrup in breads, crackers, chips, condiments, yogurts, soups, a variety of beverages, and more.
According to several popular studies, our brains and bodies metabolize high fructose corn syrup differently than traditional sugar. High fructose corn syrup doesn’t trigger the release of a chemical in our brains called leptin, which signals to our bodies that we’re full. In addition, many foods that contain high fructose corn syrup lack fiber and other elements that occur in non-processed food that help our bodies metabolize the sugar slowly, guarding against insulin resistance. High fructose corn syrup makes it difficult for us to know when to stop eating because we don’t know that we’re full.
The Research is Cloudy
Because corn is so cheap, it’s safe to assume that companies that produce high fructose corn syrup are doing well financially. But does this mean that the research regarding high fructose corn syrup is misleading or even false?
There’s definitely wisdom in keeping your eyes open when reading the research behind studies involving high fructose corn syrup. Make sure that the studies are reputable, and stick with research studies found in well-respected medical journals. Follow up any questionable facts, arguments, and opinions found on the internet using reputable sources as well.
Since high fructose corn syrup is everywhere, there’s little chance of escaping it if you eat processed foods as part of your diet. There is no substitute for eating well, exercising regularly, and paying attention to the signals your body sends in order to remain healthy.
Kelly Wilson is a busy mom and freelance writer. For more information about guarding your teeth against high fructose corn syrup, contact a dentist in Vancouver, WA at We Love Smiles.
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