High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), is a sugar substitute found in processed foods. It is used very commonly in the U.S. to replace sugar because of its cheaper cost. HFCS is included in just about every kind of food. There is a good reason for its inclusion. This substance isn't healthy for you and has been linked to serious health issues and diseases.
High fructose corn syrup is made from corn and contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients. It is a common sweetener and is made by changing sugar in cornstarch to fructose, a form of sugar. It is a combination of fructose and glucose. It is cheaper than sugar and has a long shelf life, so it has become a popular ingredient for soft drinks and processed foods. High fructose corn syrup is nearly identical in composition to table sugar. However, its role in leading to obesity remains controversial.
Moderation remains important. Many beverages and other processed foods made with HFCS and other sweeteners are high in calories and low in nutritional value. Regularly including these products in your diet has the potential to promote obesity, which in turn, promotes conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
Research
One study, conducted by Duke University researchers, implicates high-fructose corn syrup in a heightened risk of liver damage. Previous research has suggested that large amounts of fructose liver in the same way as excessive alcohol consumption. Another study linked high-fructose corn syrup specifically with a form of liver scarring known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The new study, published in the Journal of Hepatology, found that high-fructose corn syrup worsened the effects of NAFLD.
"We found that increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup was associated with scarring in the liver ... among patients with NAFLD," researcher Manal Abdelmalek said. The researchers analyzed the diets and livers of 427 adults with NAFLD, and found that only 19 percent of them never consumed fructose-containing beverages. In contrast, 52 percent of participants had between one and six servings of a fructose-containing beverage per week, while another 29 percent had at least one serving per day. The higher patients' fructose intake, the worse the scarring of their livers.
"We have identified an environmental risk factor that may contribute to the metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance and the complications of the metabolic syndrome, including liver injury," Abdelmalek said. Abdelmalek noted that NAFLD is a severe problem that cannot be treated and may lead in some cases to liver cancer, liver failure and a need for liver transplant.
"We found that increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup was associated with scarring in the liver ... among patients with NAFLD," researcher Manal Abdelmalek said. The researchers analyzed the diets and livers of 427 adults with NAFLD, and found that only 19 percent of them never consumed fructose-containing beverages. In contrast, 52 percent of participants had between one and six servings of a fructose-containing beverage per week, while another 29 percent had at least one serving per day. The higher patients' fructose intake, the worse the scarring of their livers.
"We have identified an environmental risk factor that may contribute to the metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance and the complications of the metabolic syndrome, including liver injury," Abdelmalek said. Abdelmalek noted that NAFLD is a severe problem that cannot be treated and may lead in some cases to liver cancer, liver failure and a need for liver transplant.
In another study, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) recently conducted a study revealing that cancer cells have a particular liking for refined fructose. In tests, pancreatic cancer cells quickly fed on refined fructose and used it to divide and proliferate rapidly within the body.
"These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation," explained Dr. Anthony Heaney of UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center, one of the authors of the study. Published in the journal Cancer Research, the findings also reveal that not all sugars are the same, a widely held belief in mainstream medicine. Tumor cells love both glucose sugar and fructose sugar, but fructose directly causes cancer cells to reproduce and spread in a way that glucose does not.
"Importantly, fructose and glucose metabolism are quite different," wrote the team in the study paper.
So the study solidifies the fact that there is a major difference between HFCS, a highly-refined sugar commonly used in processed American foods and beverages, and refined sugar cane. Both can lead to health problems, but high fructose corn syrup is worse in terms of cancer growth.
"I think this paper has a lot of public health implications. Hopefully, at the federal level there will be some effort to step back on the amount of high fructose corn syrup in our diets," said Dr. Heaney in a statement.
"These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation," explained Dr. Anthony Heaney of UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center, one of the authors of the study. Published in the journal Cancer Research, the findings also reveal that not all sugars are the same, a widely held belief in mainstream medicine. Tumor cells love both glucose sugar and fructose sugar, but fructose directly causes cancer cells to reproduce and spread in a way that glucose does not.
"Importantly, fructose and glucose metabolism are quite different," wrote the team in the study paper.
So the study solidifies the fact that there is a major difference between HFCS, a highly-refined sugar commonly used in processed American foods and beverages, and refined sugar cane. Both can lead to health problems, but high fructose corn syrup is worse in terms of cancer growth.
"I think this paper has a lot of public health implications. Hopefully, at the federal level there will be some effort to step back on the amount of high fructose corn syrup in our diets," said Dr. Heaney in a statement.
It is already known that the pancreas has to work much harder to metabolize fructose than it does glucose and other sugars, so it makes sense that fructose consumption is implicated more seriously in contributing to pancreatic cancer growth.
Health Issues and Diseases
Mercury - According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, high fructose corn syrup might contain higher levels of mercury than previously thought. In fact, the way the syrup is made is linked to the mercury content, which raises several flags about the potential of mercury toxicity, which can cause lung disease and speech problems.Diabetes - Since it contains so much sugar, high fructose corn syrup has been linked to the rise of diabetes in people of all ages, but especially children of the past several years. Excessive consumption of soda, in particular, can cause an increased risk of developing diabetes at some point in your life.
Obesity - High fructose corn syrup has been linked to obesity as well. The concentrated amounts of sugar contained in HFCS can lead to weight gain over time, which is directly linked with diabetes. Too much of this substance can wreak havoc on your health.
Increased Aging - Since high fructose corn syrup has been strongly linked to diabetes, it can also accelerate the aging process, damaging cells and resulting in organ damage over time. This occurs because the substance leads to oxidative damage within the body, which shows up as more wrinkles and increased illness.
Infertility - The diabetes link creates all sorts of health problems for heavy high fructose corn syrup users. Because of this, infertility may result as well, leaving the reproductive organs damaged. Erectile dysfunction is also common.
Oral Contraceptive Clash - Taking in too much high fructose corn syrup can be especially bad for women on oral contraceptives since it can raise insulin levels in the body. This can lead to hypoglycemia, diabetes or other issues like weight gain.
Do not think that replace HFCS with sugar can help with weight loss or getting healthy. Both HFCS and sugar contain the same amount of calories and added sugar is still a processed food that is bad for your health. Therefore, avoid all sugary foods altogether for a healthy diet. Instead, eat fruits when you have a craving for sweet.
Rid the Body of High Fructose Corn Syrup
Since HFCS is used very commonly in processed foods, it takes some determination and education to avoid consuming it altogether.
Step 1 - Read food label before you purchase any processed foods, including beverages such as juice and sweetened tea, condiments such as ketchup and soy sauce and dairy such as yogurt. Avoid deli and bakery goods. The lucnheon meats and bread used in delis often contain HFCS. Almost all commercial bakery goods, including breads, are made with HFCS.
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