What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is considered to be one of the biggest threats to the overall health of Americans and other western countries today. High fructose corn syrup is distinct from regular
corn syrup in that it is much sweeter because a significant amount of the glucose is converted into fructose. This product is then used to sweeten a wide range of
processed foods including baked goods, sodas, candies and more. HFCS was first marked in the 1970’s. Before that point, nobody had any of it in their diets at all because it didn’t exist. Today, experts suggest that the average America consumes about 60 pounds of it per year.
How is HFCS Made?
High fructose corn syrup is made through a process where corn starch is processed by glucose isomerase, which converts some of the glucose into fructose. It is a multi-step procedure that can produce different types of HFCS depending on the need. The three most common types are HFCS 42, 55 and 90. The number represents what percentage of the syrup is fructose.
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Bad for You?
For many years’ health advocates have been saying that HFCS is terrible for you, and recently the corn industry has started to fight back. They now claim that HFCS is acceptable as part of a healthy diet as long as it is enjoyed in moderation. This presents two main problems. First, it is almost never consumed in moderation. HFCS is added to such a wide range of different food products today that it's difficult for all but the most careful shoppers to avoid it. Even bread often contains it, which surprises many people. The other issue is that even when people do consume it in moderation, it has been linked to very significant health problems including heart disease, cancer, dementia, liver issues, tooth decay, obesity and much more. Let’s look at some of the science behind high fructose corn syrup, and why it should be avoided.
HFCS is Processed Differently than Cane Sugar
Many people claim that HFCS is biochemically identical to sugar and that the body treats it the same way. The fact is that this is not the case at all. Cane sugar has two molecules that are bound together (glucose and fructose) in equal amounts. HFCS has 55% fructose and 45% glucose. While this may seem like a minor thing, it is quite significant. The fructose goes to the liver and causes the production of lipogenesis, which is the production of fats. Also, fructose is much sweeter, which makes people want to consume more of it than they would normal sugar. Research performed by an Oakland research institute found that HFCS also takes more energy to absorb into the gut than regular sugar, and can use up phosphorous molecules, which can mean less energy to be active.
HFCS has been Shown to Contain Mercury
One researcher studied HFCS and found that it contains a variety of different contaminants that can be very harmful. This includes mercury, which is known to be extremely toxic to humans. Further study is certainly needed to see what all is in HFCS. It is certain that it at least contains mercury, which is not healthy in any amount.
High Levels of Fructose is Historically Unnatural
Most people today get the bulk of their calories from foods high in carbohydrates, including sugars like fructose. Throughout the vast majority of human history, fructose made up a very small part of the human diet. Also, when people did get fructose, it came from fruits, which also contained a high amount of other essential nutrients. Over the past several hundred years our diets have moved to include far more grains, which are high in carbohydrates. In just the past several generations, adding significant amounts of sugar (or more often, high fructose corn syrup) has become the standard. Our bodies have evolved over thousands of years to run best on moderate amounts of fructose, and such a drastic change has many
unwanted side effects.
Consuming HCFS While Pregnant Can Effect Children
A relatively recent
study looked at how feeding mice HFCS while they are pregnant can have a direct impact on their offspring. The study gave some mice regular water and others a high fructose solution. The offspring were then fed a regular mouse diet for one year. After a year, they were analyzed and found that those whose mothers consumed the HFCS were fatter, and had higher amounts of fat in the liver. While this is not a human study, the results are very telling. Further research is needed, but this should give any expecting mother an adamant reason to avoid HFCS while pregnant, and can be a good indication that it should never be consumed.
Eliminating HFCS from Your Diet
There are many other studies and other research that have found problems with consuming high fructose corn syrup. While additional research is always needed, there can be little doubt that this highly processed ‘food’ is not healthy. Unfortunately, it can be tough to eliminate it from your diet. So many foods contain HFCS today that it is almost impossible to avoid. Moving to a diet with only unprocessed foods is going to be the easiest and most effective option possible, and will give you many other health benefits as well.
