| "> | | | | disease in America, affecting 20% of the population, |
| Have you seen the television ads that recently started | | | | the main cause being sugar consumption. The most |
| running about high fructose corn syrup? The Corn | | | | common form of sugar is HFCS, which has been |
| Refiners Association started running them a couple of | | | | called a "supersugar". The consumption of all these |
| months ago. This campaign is estimated to cost | | | | sweeteners raises insulin levels, which contributes to |
| somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 to $30 million. | | | | the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. This can lead |
| Why is the Corn Refiners Association trying to sway | | | | to insulin resistance. |
| your opinion about its product? Mostly because there's | | | | HFCS has also been blamed for obesity. Dr. George |
| been controversy surrounding high fructose corn syrup | | | | Bray, principal investigator of the Diabetes Prevention |
| (HFCS). | | | | Program at Louisiana State University Medical Center |
| One point the ads make is that HFCS comes from | | | | told the International Congress on Obesity that in 1980 |
| corn. This is true, but it has nowhere near the nutritional | | | | the relatively stable obesity rates began to climb. This |
| makings of an ear of corn. In fact, HFCS is a food | | | | was just after HFCS started being used in mass |
| additive and preservative made from genetically | | | | quantities. By the year 2000, obesity rates doubled. |
| modified corn. The chemical change the corn is put | | | | In 2004, researchers from the University of North |
| through results in a product that prolongs shelf life | | | | Carolina and Louisiana State University published a |
| maintains moisture and is cheaper than sugar. | | | | paper about the role beverages with HFCS might play |
| It's estimated that as much as 40% of supermarket | | | | in the obesity epidemic. Between 1970 and 1990, there |
| food now contains HFCS, which was introduced to the | | | | was a 1,000% increase in the consumption of HFCS |
| food supply in the 1970's. You'll see it in soft drinks. In | | | | beverages and a correlating rise in obesity. |
| fact, from 1977 to 2001, the consumption of | | | | Researchers theorize that fructose may play a role in |
| fructose-sweetened beverages increased by 135%. In | | | | the obesity epidemic because of the way it is |
| 2006 it was reported that adolescents, college | | | | metabolized. |
| students, and adults under the age of 50, were | | | | Being that HFCS is inexpensive, it is used practically |
| consuming as much as 20% of their calories from | | | | everywhere, even where you might not expect. For |
| sugar-sweetened beverages. The shocking part of | | | | example, a low-fat, fruit-flavored yogurt could have 10 |
| that statistic is that it doesn't include sugar consumed in | | | | teaspoons of fructose-based sweetener in one |
| the form of cakes and desserts. Most of this sugar is | | | | serving. Since HFCS helps prevent freezer burn, it's in |
| in the form of fructose and HFCS. | | | | many frozen foods. It also helps bread brown and |
| Is there a downside to HFCS? First, as with any sugar, | | | | keeps them soft, so you'll find it in baked goods such |
| it is an "empty calorie", meaning there are no vitamins, | | | | as bread, rolls, buns, and English muffins. |
| minerals, antioxidants, or nutritional value of any kind. | | | | The US Department of Agriculture recommends a limit |
| But, there is more cause for concern. HFCS, because | | | | of 10 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day. This can |
| of being chemically modified, is metabolized differently. | | | | be a real challenge when HFCS is also used as a |
| It gets absorbed more quickly than regular sugars, and, | | | | preservative. Below is a list of examples of how much |
| unlike glucose, enters the cells without the help of | | | | sugar, mostly in the form of HFCS, can be in a single |
| insulin. What does this mean? Dr. Mark Hyman explains | | | | serving:o Sunkist soda 10 ½ teaspoonso |
| in his book Ultra-Metoblism, "Basically, that means that | | | | Berkeley Farms Low-fat Yogurt with fruit 10 |
| eating HFCS makes your cholesterol level shoot | | | | teaspoonso Mott's Applesauce 5 teaspoonso Slim-fast |
| straight up and causes problems with your liver that | | | | Chocolate Cookie Dough Meal Bar 5 teaspoonso 1 |
| slows down your metabolism." | | | | Tablespoon of ketchup 1 teaspoono Hansen's Super |
| This is a reaction that is different from other sugars. | | | | Vita Orange-Carrot Smoothie 10 teaspoons |
| Furthermore, since HFCS is metabolized differently, | | | | Make a habit of reading labels. Anything that has been |
| your brain doesn't receive a message that you are full, | | | | processed stands a good chance of containing HFCS. |
| causing you to stay hungry and continue to eat. | | | | Switch to organic products, which are less likely to use |
| Consuming HFCS can lead to increased appetite and | | | | HFCS in salad dressings, ketchups, etc. Start making |
| calorie intake, and weight gain. | | | | the shift to whole, natural foods. Whether or not you |
| Cholesterol levels are not the only body function | | | | choose to consume products containing HFCS, base |
| negatively affected by HFCS, your liver is affected, | | | | your decision on your own research, not on what |
| too. Fatty liver disease is the most common liver | | | | some television ad wants you to believe. |