How High Fructose Corn Syrup Damages Your Body

(HFCS) How High Fructose Corn Syrup Damages Your Body
Excerpts from Dr. Mercola

The number one source of calories in the US is high fructose corn syrup. Food and beverage manufacturers began switching their sweeteners from sucrose (table sugar) to corn syrup in the 1970’s when they discovered that high-fructose corn syrup was cheaper to make and sweeter, a switch that has drastically altered the American diet. According to the USDA’s report, about one-quarter of the calories consumed by the average American is in the form of ADDED sugars – the majority of which comes from high fructose corn syrup. The food that people get MOST of their calories is from soft drinks where high fructose corn syrup is the main ingredient. Consumption of beverages containing fructose rose 135% between 1977 and 2001.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contains NO enzymes, vitamins, or minerals and it leeches micronutrients from the body. The problem with high fructose corn syrup is the way it is metabolized. Most fats are formed in your liver, and when sugar enters your liver, it decides whether to store it, burn it, or turn it into fat. Fructose, however bypasses this process and simply turns into fat. This process disrupts insulin levels. If you need to lose weight, or if you want to avoid diabetes and heart disease, fructose is one type of sugar you will want to avoid, particularly in the form of high fructose corn syrup. It plays havoc on systems throughout your body.

High fructose corn syrup contributes to most chronic illnesses. Because most fructose is consumed in liquid form, its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified. It reduces the affinity of insulin for its receptor which is the principle characteristic of type 2 Diabetes. According to the latest statistics, new cases of Diabetes have increased by 90 percent in the last 10 years, and Diabetes or pre-diabetes now strikes one in four Americans. HFCS interferes with insulin and leptin (a protein hormone that regulates energy intake and expenditure, appetite and metabolism.) Appetite does not recognize signals to slow or stop food intake, and the desire for food may actually be increased contributing to weight gain and obesity. High fructose corn syrup elevates blood cholesterol. It inhibits the action of the immune system’s white blood cells, leads to bone loss and anemia. It harms organs such as your pancreas, and liver - even causing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It contributes to cardio vascular disease interfering with the heart’s use of minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium. It contributes to cancer, hypoglycemia and Metabolic Syndrome X.

Despite all the evidence, the industry persists in claiming these findings are untrue, arguing the high fructose corn syrup is the same as sugar. Their campaign also relies on nutritional research, but it should be noted that the findings for many of the major studies in question came FROM COMPANIES THAT PRODUCE PRODUCTS CONTAINING HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) and, therefore, they have a financial stake in the out come. To admit major health problems result from ingredients they put into their products would be devastating to their business. Your health is not their concern, the bottom line is.

55 percent of sweeteners used are made from corn. This dangerous sweetener is in many processed foods and fruit juices. If you purchase packaged or pre-prepared food, become an avid label reader. Commercials for processed food products pretend to be “natural,” but high fructose corn syrup is not organic or natural, it is processed. Names for high fructose corn syrup are: natural sugars, chicory’ insulin, iso glucose, glucose-fructose syrup, dahlia syrup, tapioca syrup, glucose syrup, corn syrup, crystalline fructose, fruit fructose, agave, and the list continues to grow. The best rule is – if you cannot recognize it as a whole food – it is a foreign substance – do NOT put it INTO your body!

To avoid high fructose corn syrup and the health dangers it creates, focus your diet on whole foods: fresh from the produce section, or frozen. Eating small amounts of whole fruit will not provide tremendous amounts of fructose and should not be a problem for most people where diabetes or obesity is NOT an issue.

We would see a radically outrageous improvement in our health as a nation if everyone just stopped drinking soda.

Names for High-fructose Corn Syrup: Chicory' insulin, iso glucose, glucose-fructose syrup, dahlia syrup, tapioca syrup, glucose syrup, corn syrup, crystalline fructose and flat out fraud, fruit fructose, and agave.