Researchers tell us that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is making us fat.
Before the 1970s, most food products were sweetened with sucrose, which is made from sugar cane, or beets.
During this time, your favorite sodas contained sugar, among other things.
While sucrose is not known for its healthy qualities, sugar pales in comparison to the problems caused by HFCS.
Population studies have shown a correlation between the appearance of certain health problems and the time that HFCS appeared on the market.
What it is?
nutritionists feel that HFCS is worse than sugar
Top High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a highly refined, artificial product that is created through a process transforming cornstarch into a thick clear liquid.
This liquid is much sweeter than sugar and is implicated as the cause of several serious diseases.
It's also cheaper to make, has a longer shelf life, and it’s not susceptible to freezer burn as sugar is.
This explains why manufacturers began to substitute it in place of regular sugar.
What foods contain it?
HFCS slows the burning of fat
Top If you think that it’s only found in cookies and cakes, think again! Almost every manufactured food you buy contains HFCS.
It is found in pizzas, baby food, yogurt, baked beans, even beer. It would be very difficult to find a product at your local super market that didn’t contain it.
Fast food restaurants love it. As it is cheaper than white sugar, they use it in their condiments, breads, sauces, and drinks.
Plus, since it doesn’t promote a feeling of fullness, as explained below, you are more likely to go back for seconds, which translates to greater profits for restaurants.
It is so much a part of our daily diets that the USDA reports the average American consumes 60 pounds of it each year.
Contrast that to 1970 when your average individual only consumed 1/2 pounds of it each year.
Start reading the labels in your cupboard. You may be surprised at what you discover.
Why is it bad for me?
HFCS isn't the corn syrup you buy at the supermarket to use for baking
Top First of all, high fructose corn syrup goes directly to your liver. There it causes your body to store fat and increases triglyceride levels in the blood. Your body doesn’t process fructose in the same way it does sugar.
Additionally, research has found that it decreases insulin production, which functions to curb your appetite. Insulin gives your stomach a feeling of fullness. As a result, you tend to eat more when consuming products containing HFCS.
Also, it decreases levels of chromium in your blood. Low levels of chromium in your bloodstream increase the likelihood you will develop diabetes.
Problems caused by HFCS
it gives bread its wonderful color
Top Some of the health problems associated with high consumption of HFCS are:
Obesity
Diabetes
High triglyceride levels in your blood
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Behavioral problems in children
A shortening of your life span
Tips that will keep mineral levels high, and fructose levels low
high triglycerides increase your risk of heart disease
Top Since you need low levels of minerals, and high levels of fructose before experiencing any ill effects, here's some tips that’ll help prevent this state:
Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. While many canned products contain high levels of high fructose corn syrup, fresh produce contains high mineral levels without any processed sugar.
Consider taking a vitamin. It is very difficult to get all your recommended requirements of chromium from food. Recommended chromium levels are between 50 and 200 mcg of chromium each day.
Read the labels. Before automatically reaching for that manufactured food you’ve used for years, read the ingredients on the label. Look for alternative products, or consider making them yourself.
Avoid soft drinks and processed fruit juices. Drinking three or more cans of soda or fruit punch each day causes you to obtain a large percentage of your calories from high fructose corn syrup.
From now on, attempt to make a conscious effort to avoid high fructose corn syrup. It may be hard, but you can do it.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth like I do, that may be hard to envision. But to paraphrase the late comedian Jackie Gleason, perhaps your motto should be,