Health Risks Of High Fructose Corn Syprup

High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS is a sweetener made from corn that has been concentrated into syrup for manufacturing ready-to-eat products. Since the 1970s, there has been an increase use of this sweetener and the American public has become more overweight since the widespread use of it. The manufacturers of HFCS state this sweetener isn't any more harmful to the body than regular cane sugar. Research is starting to show there are health risks associated with the consumption of HFCS.

Weight Gain

A study at Princeton University discovered rats consuming HFCS gained more weight than rats consuming the same amount of calories from sugar when all food calories were equal. The rats gained more weight in the stomach region and had higher body fat levels than the rats fed regular sugar. HFCS is considered to a safe sweetener and equal to sugar, but HFCS contains 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose compared to table sugar, which is 50/50 fructose and glucose. The Princeton researchers discovered in their study the rats receiving HFCS gained weight despite their water being sweetened with less HFCS than the rats given table sugar in their water. The researchers believe HFCS processing leaves fructose unbound and readily available for absorption and utilization, which is why the rats gained more weight. Table sugar has a different structure. Fructose is still bound to glucose and your body must break the two apart in order for your body to use fructose. This extra step may be the reason why table sugar isn't as conducive to weight gain as HFCS.

Triglycerides

Fructose is metabolized in the liver in order to be used for energy. When excessive fructose is eaten, your liver is flooded with fructose leading to an increase production of triglycerides and fat storage in your liver. Fructose serves to replenish liver stores of sugar, but easily is converted to triglycerides once your liver capacity for storage sugar has been filled, according to Sareen Gropper, Jack Smith and James Groff of "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism." Repeated exposure of HFCS increases fat storage in the liver and makes more triglycerides. Dietitian, Christopher Mohr states that leptin levels increase with consumption of high fructose corn syrup---HFCS leading you to gain more body fat. Increased leptin levels promote more body fat accumulation with HFCS consumption.

Diabetes

Insulin helps to regulate your appetite by managing blood sugar levels. When blood sugar increases, insulin is released so your muscles can use the sugar. This sends a signal to your brain that your body has needed energy and doesn't require more food. Consuming unbound fructose as in HFCS, your body doesn't release insulin and your brain doesn't receive the signal that your body is fed. This could lead to you eating more in order to "satisfy" your body's false hunger. Fructose has been shown to decrease insulin sensitivity; this can be related to increased triglyceride formation and circulation in the blood, according to Dana Flavin, MD. with Life Extension Magazine. Increased triglyceride level is a risk factor associated with metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by increased circulating insulin, high triglycerides and cholesterol levels, increased abdominal fat and high blood pressure.