Sugar is bad enough for you, but the food industries are using a cheap substitute for sugar: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). According to Angeles Institute the average American is consuming roughly 17 teaspoons every day. That translates into about 57 pounds of sugar consumed per person, each year.
What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?
High-fructose corn syrup, also known as glucose–fructose, isoglucose and glucose–fructose syrup, is a sweetener made from corn starch.
HFCS is a liquid fructose-glucose sweetener made from corn that is commonly substituted for sugar in processed foods. It was introduced in the US food supply in 1970 due to escalating cane and beet sugar costs. Those costs have remained high because of US tariffs on sugar and corn farming subsidies, which has made HFCS cheaper to use than traditional sugars.
A brief History of HFCS
HFCS was discovered in 1965 in Japan and was first marketed in the early 1970s by the Clinton Corn Processing Company, together with the Japanese Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, where the enzyme was discovered.
HFCS was rapidly introduced to many processed foods and soft drinks in the U.S. from about 1975 to 1985. Soft drink makers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi still use sugar in other nations but switched to HFCS in the U.S. due to higher sugar costs. Because it’s cheap, it’s now in most of the processed foods and beverages you eat and drink.
HFCS is used in almost every packaged food and soft drink American consumers see today. HFCS has replaced more expensively priced sugar in a variety of uses including; the beverage industry (41%), processed food manufacturers (22%), cereal and bakery producers (14%), multiple-use food manufacturers (12%), the dairy industry (9%).
Does HFCS make you fatter than normal sugar?
Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that it is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by increasing appetite.
A Princeton University study demonstrated that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same. The long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States.
Here are many reasons why eating too much sugar is bad for your health.
1. It Can Cause Weight Gain
Consuming too much added sugar, especially from sugary beverages, increases your risk of weight gain and can lead to visceral fat accumulation.
2. May Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease
A study in over 25,877 adults found that individuals who consumed more added sugar had a greater risk of developing heart disease and coronary complications compared to individuals who consumed less added sugar.
3. Increases Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Eating large amounts of sugar can indirectly raise diabetes risk by contributing to weight gain and increased body fat — both of which are risks for developing diabetes.
4. May Increase Your Risk of Cancer
A systematic review analyzing 37 prospective cohort studies found that in two of five studies on added sugar, a 60% – 95% increased cancer risk was observed with higher sugar intakes
5. May Accelerate the Skin Aging Process
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are compounds formed by reactions between sugar and protein in your body. Consuming a diet high in refined carbs and sugar leads to the production of AGEs, which may cause your skin to age prematurely. AGEs damage collagen and elastin, which are proteins that help the skin stretch and keep its youthful appearance.
6. Can Lead to Fatty Liver
Large amounts of added sugar in the form of fructose overload your liver, leading to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition characterized by excessive fat buildup in the liver.
7. Increase Kidney Disease Risk
Fructose can increase serum concentrations of urate, leading to the development of kidney disease . Consistently high blood sugar levels can also damage the delicate blood vessels in your kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney disease
30 Names for Hidden Sugars in Food Labels.
There are over 50 different names for sugar, here are 30 hidden ones to keep your eye out for before choosing to bring home.
corn sweetener
ethyl maltol
corn syrup
dextrose
fructose
fruit juice concentrates
glucose
high-fructose corn syrup
invert sugar
lactose
maltose
malt syrup
raw sugar
sucrose
sugar syrup
florida crystals
cane sugar
crystalline fructose
evaporated cane juice
corn syrup solids
malt syrup
barley malt
agave nectar
rice syrup
caramel
panocha
muscovado
molasses
treacle
carob syrup
Note: Are carbohydrates a form of sugar?
Carbohydrates, or carbs, are sugar molecules. Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of three main nutrients found in foods and drinks. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose.
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The Secrets of Sugar (More than 9 millions views)
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Sources: health.harvard.edu; healthline.com/nutrition; clarkstreetpress.com