With today's emphasis on healthy eating, there is an obvious need to control and understand sugar intake. Reading food labels is important. In some circumstances, sugar may be disguised under different names. High fructose corn syrup is one of the ingredients that may fool you. HFCS is a corn-based sweetener that has been on the market since the 1970s.
Malnutrition
High fructose corn syrup is cost effective for companies because it is extremely sweet and cheap to produce. It has become a very popular ingredient in many foods. Processed foods that have added HFCS tend to be low in nutrient value and full of empty calories. If these high-sugar, high-calorie choices are consumed on a regular basis, they take the place of needed nutrients, water and fiber. This can lead to malnutrition.
Weight Gain
Fructose is the main sugar in HFCS. Fructose does not stimulate insulin release in the body because of its chemical structure. Leptin is normally triggered by insulin release. Leptin is a hormone that tells your brain that you are full. Without the release of leptin, you continue to feel hungry, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.
Long-Term Health Concerns
According to research by the American Diabetic Association quoted by Dummies.com, animal studies have shown that the metabolic processes of fructose may induce high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides and pre-diabetes. Fructose is metabolized into fat in the liver rather than absorbed and processed into glucose like table sugar.
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