High-fructose corn syrup is the most commonly used added sugar in foods, according to MayoClinic.com. A diet high in sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup can lead to health problems. High-fructose corn syrup is in many different foods, including some that are not typically considered sugary. Knowing some of the most common foods that include high-fructose corn syrup will enable you to limit your consumption and make healthier eating choices.
Fruit-flavored Drinks
Most fruit-flavored drinks contain very little real fruit juice and have large amounts of added sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, notes MayoClinic.com. Consuming large amounts of fruit-flavored drinks results in too many empty calories and not enough nutrition. Too much added sugar in your diet can also cause you to gain weight, get cavities in your teeth and increase your risk of having a heart attack.
Soda is another similar beverage that uses high-fructose corn syrup to make the drinks sweet. MayoClinic.com recommends restricting your intake of fruit-flavored drinks and soda so you can increase your intake of water and 100 percent fruit juice. Other unsweetened drinks, such as tea, can also replace fruit-flavored beverages.
Tomato Ketchup
High-fructose corn syrup is one of the main ingredients in many brands of tomato ketchup. The added corn syrup is what gives ketchup its slightly sweet flavor, notes William Clower, author of "The Fat Fallacy: The French Diet Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss." A serving size of ketchup is about 2 tbsp., but many people eat more than that at one time, which increases your intake of high-fructose corn syrup. Other tomato-based products contain added sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup as well. Read the ingredient list on canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and tomato juices to determine which brands have this added sugar.
Granola Bars
Many brands of granola bars claim to be a healthy addition to your diet, but include high-fructose corn syrup as one of the main ingredients, reports Mark Hyman, author of "The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Way to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind." Granola bars that have chocolate, peanut butter, dried fruit or marshmallows almost always contain high-fructose corn syrup as well. Some granola bars that include whole grains or oatmeal, which are healthy ingredients, also contain this form of added sugar. Read the ingredient labels carefully to find brands and flavors of granola bars that do not add high-fructose corn syrup.
References
- MayoClinic.com: What Are the Health Concerns About High-Fructose Corn Syrup?
- "The Fat Fallacy: The French Diet Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss"; William Clower; 2003
- "The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Way to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind"; Mark Hyman; 2009
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