Both high-fructose corn syrup and high-maltose corn syrup are refined forms of sugar processed from corn and used in commercially-prepared food products. While high-fructose corn syrup usually contains about 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, high-maltose corn syrup is mainly made of glucose. Reading food labels and ingredients list is a good way to identify what ingredients and types of sweeteners are used in the foods you buy, but ingredients are often processed and complex, making it difficult for consumers to know what foods are healthy or unhealthy choices.
Use
High-maltose corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup are used for different purposes. According to the Center of Science in the Public Interest, high-maltose corn syrup is used to improve the shelf life of a food and is mainly found in candies, baked goods and in beer. On the other hand, high-fructose corn syrup is simply used a cheap sweetener that can be added to many foods and beverages.
Nutrition Facts
It is not possible to buy high-fructose corn syrup or high-maltose corn syrup at your grocery store because these processed syrups are only used by the food industry in processed foods. However, if you could compare their labels and nutritional values, you would not see a big difference between these two corn-based sweeteners. Just like when comparing white sugar to brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup or molasses, both high-fructose and high-maltose corn syrups also contains about the same amount of calories and sugar, or roughly 60 calories and 15 g of carbohydrates or sugar per tablespoon.
Processed Foods
The types of foods and beverages in which you can find high-fructose corn syrup or high-maltose corn syrups are likely highly refined. Most processed foods and especially the processed foods that contain added sugar, whether from high-fructose corn syrup or high-maltose corn syrup, do not belong to the family of healthy and nutritious foods. Any food that contains high-fructose or high-maltose corn syrup is a processed food and is, therefore, not essential to your diet.
High-Fructose or High-Maltose
The main nutritional difference between high-fructose and high-maltose corn syrup is the type of sugar they contain. The former is higher in fructose, while the latter is mainly made of maltose, or glucose. Although some experts like Dr. Robert H. Lustig, a specialist on pediatric hormone disorders and expert in childhood obesity at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, firmly believes that fructose is the villain responsible for today's obesity and diabetes epidemic, most nutritionists would agree that the consumption of any type of sugar should be minimized for optimal health. You can avoid the dilemma of having to choose between two refined sugars and the empty calories they provide by opting for natural, whole foods. Your health and waist circumference will greatly benefit from limiting your consumption of processed foods and refined sugars.
Member Comments