Negative Health Consequences Of High-fructose Corn Syrup

One of the many changes in the American diet over the last several decades has been in how we sweeten foods. Today, more than half of sugar comes from corn, most of it in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS. HFCS contains almost equal proportions of glucose and fructose. Sweeter than table sugar and less expensive, corn syrup is found in everything from sodas to sauces and baby food. Insufficient evidence exists that corn syrup is less healthy than other sweeteners, but according to Joseph Mercola, M.D., research is evolving to suggest that this sweetener is a major contributor to disease.

Fructose

Fructose is a simple sugar found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. The fructose in HFCS, however, is a concentrated form that does not exist in nature. By consuming foods sweetened with corn syrup, you increase the amount of dietary fructose severalfold. This can burden your liver, which must metabolize the extra sugar, and may contribute to disease, says Mercola.

Possible Health Consequences

Mercola notes that diseases such as heart disease, liver disease and cancer may be associated with too much fructose in the diet. Additionally, high-fructose corn syrup can elevate blood pressure and cholesterol as well as contribute to insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. But not all authorities agree. According to MayoClinic.com, research has yielded mixed results about the negative health consequences of consuming HFCS, and more studies are necessary to substantiate these claims.

Obesity

The increase in the consumption of HFCS closely parallels the trajectory of obesity rates, says Walter C. Willett, M.D., author of "Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy." And fructose is handled differently by your body than are other sugars. Fructose favors the synthesis and storage of fat and because of its effect on insulin, it may lead to increased caloric consumption and weight gain, according to an article in the April 2004 issue of "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The overconsumption of HFCS in sweetened beverages may therefore play a role in the epidemic of obesity.

Considerations

More important than the type of sweetener in your diet may be the amount you use. In other words, too much of any type of added sweetener, be it from corn or from sugarcane, can adversely affect your health. Willett recommends limiting your intake of all added sugars to under 10 percent of daily calories, the equivalent to roughly 10 tsp. Opt for organic cane sugar and raw honey. Of the noncaloric sweeteners, try stevia.