Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Really Bad For You?

In 2000, Americans were eating approximately 32 teaspoons of added sugars per person per day. The UDSA recommends about 10 teaspoons of added sugar every day. Sugar is not bad; there are just some sugars that are worse for us then others. When consumed in excess, high fructose corn syrup can be bad for your health. Many of the infomercials for high fructose corn syrup are making consumers think that added sugars can be healthy in moderation. This may be confusing, and some of the information may be false.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup, HFCS, is a sweetener that is often used in many processed foods. It is produced by processing corn starch, which is 100 percent glucose, and adding enzymes to change it into fructose. This product has been known to replace sugar because it is cheaper due to the abundance of corn. High fructose corn syrup has been used in the general food supply for over 20 years. Consumption of this sugar has increased among Americans. It appears in products such as soda pops, sports drinks, some bottled fruit juices, flavored coffee, energy drinks, cereal, store-bought cookies, crackers and candy.

What Makes This Sugar Bad For You?

Some scientific studies have linked high consumption of fructose to weight gain as well as obesity. It has been also associated with insulin resistance and elevated triglyceride levels. The body does not process HFCS like the other sugars such as sucrose, or table sugar. Fructose is converted into fat and sent into the bloodstream in the form of triglycerides. When fructose is consumed, it does not stimulate hormones that affect satiety like sucrose would. High fructose corn syrup will not satisfy you, and this may cause you to consume more calories.

Foods That Contain High Fructose Corn Syrup

Americans are consuming entirely too much soda pop, sports drinks and other processed food. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a single 12-ounce can of soda has as much as 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Buy fruit that is canned with its own juices or water, not heavy syrup. Decrease your soda intake. Also decrease energy drinks or juice drinks that are not 100 percent juice.

Read Food Labels

Pay attention to nutrition facts label and the ingredients. Watch for words that may be associated with added sugars. Corn sweetener, corn syrup, fructose, high fructose corn syrup and fruit juice concentrates are all signs that the food item contains these added sugars. Be aware that many American foods contain high fructose corn syrup. If you do not read labels carefully and watch what you are consuming, you may be consuming too much.