Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is the new silent killer. Sadly, it is found in almost everything we eat. find out how to avoid it.
One of the greatest ways we can improve our health is to eliminate high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from our diets.
What is HFCS?
HFCS is not the run of the mill corn syrup found on the grocery store shelf, nor is it the fructose naturally found in fruits and honey. HFCS is a highly refined clear liquid derived from corn starch. Food manufactures love to use it because of its long shelf life an it’s relative low cost.
Why is HFCS Bad for us?
Since HFCS’s widespread introduction in the 1980’s North American obesity rates have skyrocketed. Obesity has been linked to may heath issues including heart disease and many forms of cancer. When HFCS is ingested, it travels straight to the liver which turns the sugary liquid into fat, and unlike other carbohydrates HFCS does not cause the pancreas to produce insulin; which acts as a hunger quenching signal to the brain. So we get stuck in a vicious cycle, eating food that gets immediately stored as fat and never feeling full.
Where is HFCS found?
HFCS is found in almost everything we eat today. However, the worst culprit has to be soft drinks. A single 12 oz can of cola has up to 13 tsp of sugar, most of it fructose from HFCS. There is HFCS hidden in many of our other food as well, like ketchup, relish, cookies, and most alarmingly in low-fat diet foods. Manufactures substitute HFCS for the fat in food like mayo and salad dressings, then mark them as diet foods.
How Can We Avoid HFCS?
Avoiding HFCS will take a lifestyle change for the better. The first food to go has to be the soft drinks; this includes fruit punch, fruit cocktails, and Kool-Aid since they are all laden with HFCS.
Second, eat more meals at home. Restaurant foods are mostly prepackaged foods reheated and served to you. Use of HFCS in these foods is wide spread because of their increased shelf life.
Third, diet while you shop. Since you are going to be eating most of your meals at home, you’re going to want to fill your cupboards with the best foods. While shopping, read the labels, if HFCS, fructose, or modified corn starch appears within the first five ingredients place it back on the shelf an move on. Sounds easy right? Wrong. As you make your way through the store you will begin to realize just how much of what you have been eating on a daily basis contains HFCS.
Reducing HFCS will not alway be easy, but the health benefits are well worth it. You will feel stronger and more vital, it will lift your mood and give you increased concentration. Limiting your intake of HFCS will not only shrink your midsection but also do wonders for your over all health.
Update Aug 13 2009:
New studies have shown HFCS and regular sugar are nutitionaly identical and your body reacts the same to them. The advice in this article still holds true. If you reduce your HFCS you will be reducing your overall sugar and calorie intake. This will lead to weight loss and weight loss will lead to better health. it is the obesity that is the problem not the HFCS inparticular. I know its a minor point, I’m just striving for accuacy.
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Ivan Saul Cutler | Nov 27, 2007 | Reply
Has Congress investigated this false food menace?
Dave M | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
A report from the Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy Workshop in 2005 stated, “there is currently no convincing evidence to support a link between HFCS consumption and overweight/obesity
Beth Franks | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
While more studies are needed, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that HFCS or other sugar sources have a unique effect (other than contributing calories) on obesity. Too many calories from any source can lead to weight gain
uchia | Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
of course there they would say that they were paid off the signs r pretty evident if you think about it if they would tell the truth imagine how much money they lose
queen9teen | Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
This article is not just about WEIGHT GAIN—that’s just ONE of the many things to result in the consumption of HFCS. I found this article bears witness to what my children’s dentist told me regarding the increase of dental caries in young children. How many cavities did you have in the 7th grade compared to the average 7th grader nowadays? I think this is a great article—Also,just to add- can YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE GRAPES IN THE SUPERMARKET ARE NOW THE SIZE OF THE APPLES? WHAT IS A WOKLY? AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE SEEDED WATERMELONS?
The Neuropath | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Seems to me that cardiac hypertrophy due to copper deficiency is enough to give one pause – but look at all of the other effects upon the human body due to HFCS.
The FDA serves the manufacturers – and not the people. So the bottom line is – profit, profit and more profit; and the people be damned.
And – to add insult to injury, HFCS is now being purchased from China – a country well known for its quality control expertise.
Think about it folks.
Bryan | Aug 18, 2008 | Reply
The National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) describes itself as ‘a private non-profit non-advocacy research organization’.
In its 2002 annual report states that NCFAP was “originally established in 1984 at Resources for the Future (RFF)with a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Center became an independent organization in 1992. [1] However, RFF has maintained close ties with the organisation. For example, the domain name registration of the NCFAP website, last updated in January 2006, lists its administrative contact as a staff member of RFF. [2] (RFF operates out of the same building).
healthattack | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
It is just a shame that we are so lazy to eat the way our parents did. Depending on people we don’t know to make our food, nor do we know where it is made and really whats in it. The most important thing is our own body yet we treat like and feed it “crap”. It is no one elses fault but ours. We take matters into our own hands and quit feeding this to our children, DO YOU REALLY NEED THE FDA TO TELL YOU WHAT TO EAT?
Michelle | Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
But who eats fast food anymore anyway? Only the people that actually have weight/health problems.
Dan | Sep 3, 2008 | Reply
AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE SEEDED WATERMELONS?
Seeds in watermelons and grapes contain B17 which is know to prevent and treat certain cancers. They were cheap and easy to come by hence the need for Big Agra and Big Pharma (gradually merging into one)to eliminate them.
Kevin | Sep 3, 2008 | Reply
Holy cow, Dan that is almost the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Don’t you think that it is more likely the seeds were “eliminated” for your convenience? Nobody likes to have to find a place to spit them out.
Kevin | Sep 3, 2008 | Reply
BTW I think Big Pharma shot JFK too. Pass it on.
s | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
Those commercials for high fructose corn syrup that are out now are stupid. They’re like “it’s made from corn, has just as many calories as sugar, and is fine in moderation.” But how can it really be in moderation when it’s in almost everything?
sw67 | Sep 6, 2008 | Reply
Those commercials need to go. They make me so mad. A counter commercial needs to be done letting people know exactly why high fructose corn syrup is nothing like sugar and it’s true dangers. The current commercial makes it look like those choosing to abstain from HFCS don’t have a clue why they don’t eat or drink it.
LabelReader | Sep 7, 2008 | Reply
Should the Food and Drug people FDA really be connected seeing as how bad food lead us to needing to take drugs? One thing im sure of is that when the food companies start having to promote corn syrup it sounds off an alarms. Remember 2 days ago cholestrol drugs for example where touted as a mircle drug oh we forget to tell you it causes extremely high rates of liver damage the same with transfat that they said where ok, oh but it make your cholestrol high… WAKE UP PEOPLE… the food people and the drug people in the same boat something very very wrong.
Danielle B | Sep 9, 2008 | Reply
Sure, there’s no necissarily long term, substantiating proof of the direct link of HFCS to obesity, but the physiological aspect of what happens inside your body after consumption of the product is something you cannot deny that causes a person to gain excessive weight due to this starch derivative. Chemically altering a substance changes everything – so you can’t even compare it to fructose syrup. The way they have changed the composition of the Corn Syrup makes it a whole new thing, with tons if new implications (and that is, that your body can’t even signal satiety when consuming it – so when would you stop eating?)
Don’t always discard research because the FDA hasn’t approved it – look further into their interests, and the things they decide to turn they eyes away from.
Bill | Sep 14, 2008 | Reply
Just wanted to say GREAT SITE!! Keep it up. Need more sites like this to raise awareness of these kinds of issues. (dont get me started on chlorine in the tap water!).
Rebecca | Oct 9, 2008 | Reply
I will read label more carefully in the future. Keep raising awareness!
Lisa | Oct 11, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for a great article. Obesity is epidemic and slowly killing our nation. The HFCS and other manmade chemicals are reaking havoc on the human body. Diabetes is raging out of control and affecting our children. There are more people with IBS and lactose intolerance than ever before. Doesn’t it make you wonder why??? Food is meant to fuel our bodies, although pleasure from eating is great, slow suicide is not.
Chris | Oct 28, 2008 | Reply
I suffered from headaches for 20 years and stopped using HFCS and the headaches dissappered.
Pioneering | Nov 22, 2008 | Reply
I hate those commercials for high fructose corn syrup that are out now.
Person 1: “You know what they say about high fructose corn syrup?”
Person 2: “No. What do they say?”
Person 1: DUH!
Pioneering | Nov 22, 2008 | Reply
To continue above: Person 1 should not be stupid but give the information found on this web page.
Sam K | Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
This is beyond sad… I kept fighting with my mom, thanks to whom I haven’t eat this POS corn syrup for over a year now… but after this article and some others, I now agree w/her. Is there some… population control we’re being subjected to? Are there too many people in this country, why we being fed all this crap, and why would food companies now want a healthy nation..? There’s got to be a benefit in this somewhere… for them.
About obesity not being linked to HFCS… why not tell us the f-ing details of that survey… them buttheads.
Sam K | Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
I meant… ‘why would food companies NOT want a healthy nation,’ my bad
michael mckeem | Dec 14, 2008 | Reply
Dave said:
A report from the Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy Workshop in 2005 stated, “there is currently no convincing evidence to support a link between HFCS consumption and overweight/obesity.
Newer research indicates that a diet high in fructose combined with high fat, such as we get in fast foods, causes leptin resistance. Leptin is the enzyme that gives the brain the all filled up signal. And leptin resistance is found in the vast majority of overweight people. So yes there is now evidence to support a connection between HFCS and obesity.
Brian Key | Dec 29, 2008 | Reply
I drive all across America and have seen the majority of food crops replaced by corn, you might say, well this is for producing
alternative fuels, but sadly Not the case, only 25% of the corn grown is used for fuel. The rest is turned into HFCS and some animal feeds. The Food industry ADM etc. are only interested in
massive profits, they promote absolute lies regarding HFCS,the tobacco companies lie the alcohol makers lie, the food industry knows that Americans are Fat stupid lazy sheep and if its on TV
it must be true. Wake up America, every generation gets dumber than the previous one. We will get what we deserve, if we dont stop these greedy corporate execs.
Brian Key | Dec 29, 2008 | Reply
I drive all across America and have seen the majority of food crops replaced by corn, you might say, well this is for producing
alternative fuels, but sadly Not the case, only 25% of the corn grown is used for fuel. The rest is turned into HFCS and some animal feeds. The Food industry ADM etc. are only interested in
massive profits, they promote absolute lies regarding HFCS,the tobacco companies lie the alcohol makers lie, the food industry knows that Americans are Fat stupid lazy sheep and if its on TV
it must be true. Wake up America, every generation gets dumber than the previous one. We will get what we deserve, if we dont stop these greedy corporate execs.
Joann | Jan 6, 2009 | Reply
There is this really good company based out of Pittsburgh, PA that makes this DELICIOUS LeMonade with
NO CORN SYRUP or ASPARTEME—
You can actually find them in most Whole foods store…if not ask the manager and they can probably order it..its unreal how GOOD it is…..
website….
http://www.heartandsoulfoodsinc.com/healthylemonade.html
Ted Daniels | Jan 19, 2009 | Reply
HFCS also makes the inside of your arteries spongy, reduces cross sectional area available for blood flow and generally inhibits effective blood circulation. If you have a tendency to gout, it’ll get worse. If you have poor circulation, it’ll get worse. A simple test – if you sit on a plane or in a car for 4-5 hrs, do you feel stiff when you get up? If so cut out HFCS and the beneficial effects will be felt in days
Dr. Ken | Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
Gee, why do I suspect that BIG MONEY from the big four corporate food conglomerates is keeping the results of High Fructose Corn Poison from the public? Has anyone observed an increase in Type II diabetes since the wholesale introduction of HFCS in the 1970s? We need to be vigilant not only about lead poisoning and other maladies from Chinese imports, but also about good old-fashioned domestic greed and social irresponsibility (viz. the current peanut /salmonella debacle).
Merle Houston | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
I work in the insurance field. I have noticed a stedily increasing number of clients with high glucose levels over the years. I have had several physicians come back with borderline diabetic levels. One clients works for a large food manufacturer. That company is considering cutting off HFCS from their processing. I bought a bread machine and have been doing a lot more cooking at home to avoid this stuff. My kids appear to not get as sick as often as their cousins who they attend school with.
SteveA | Mar 9, 2009 | Reply
Do not believe the idiots that tell you sugar is bad for you and fructose is cheaper. The only reason fructose is cheaper is that the government tariffs it to make HFCS cheaper. The reason they say sugar is bad for you is to make you feel better about HFCS.
Curious abot the tariffs? Check into the NAFTA negotiations and you will find that Mexico asked for relief on the tariffs and had to settle for even exchange, HFCS for sugar. Why not kill our neighbors also.
i | Mar 10, 2009 | Reply
Think of it as Darwinism…let the idiots have their HFCS. Go on little sheep, keep believing what the gov agencies tell you. They never lie right? No, Pharma doesn’t make more $$ when ppl have more diseases from unhealthy food choices. Look how well the rich execs on Wall St, home industry, banking, etc. are looking out for the little ppl. They would never do anything to harm or take advantage of the masses. Baaaaaaaa! little sheep
Catriona | Mar 14, 2009 | Reply
A well respected physician told my son to not eat anything with HFCS in it. This product leaves a residue in the gut. It causes problems with the GI system, digestion and other health problems.
A nutritionist for the last 25 years, having studied the various sweetners, I believe this is one product that does not have a place in the diet on any level.
The new commercials, and the website promoting the product, are misleading.
We are bombarded everyday with new processed
food choices, and the best choice we can make is to not eat the manufactured products.
There is plenty of information available today one can study if they really want to make an informed choice regarding this topic.
Leisa | May 7, 2009 | Reply
I eliminated as much HFC as possible from my diet for a period of 90 days. I did not increase nor decrease my physical activity and my weight went from 214 to 180, and my cholestoral level decreased by 15 points. I recently began intaking more HFC and increased my physical activity but now I’ve gained 7lbs (all in my midsection). Needless to say, I’ll go back to decreasing the HFCs asap!
David | May 31, 2009 | Reply
Everything in moderation. Eat lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Drink water. Want juice? Drink small quantity of fresh squeezed.
Eat regular oatmeal (not instant) for breakfast.
Portion control is the secret. No need for big meals, ever. Go to a restaurant, eat half, take half home.
That’s it. Simple.
You will loose weight, LDL’s.
diana haro | Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Bottom line: If it’s “FDA approved” or if the goverment want you to eat it: just don’t.
And purchase your food at your local farmers markets, at trader joe’s , at whole foods, at wild wood’s, follow your heart, etc. Why? Because their ingredients are gmo free.
Never buy brand name products because they will always have bad ingredients for you. And always read the food label. If you can’t pronounce the ingredient on the label, don’t eat it!!!! I’m fine with ppl who always tell you: “but we will al die anyways”; yeah that’s true too, so have fun paying for the hospital bill thousands and thousands of dollars because your beloved doctor couldn’t find a cure for you disease…..which was generally caused by your nutritional deficiencies over the years…so have fun wasting your money in hospitals later on, have fun asking for help to the bathroom in your older years because you wouldn’t even care about having strong legs or get real calcium for your bones…..
robyn | Aug 21, 2009 | Reply
shutup
s | Sep 21, 2009 | Reply
I am confused… why do meal replacement meals like Special K protein bars contain HFCS if HFCS keeps your falsely hungry? The protein bars are supposed to make you feel full? Is it just for shelf life? In this case then, would it be safe to state that since these protein bars do in fact make you feel full, the level of HFCS in them used for shelf life purposes is inconsequential in terms of negative health effects of HFCS because the protein bars are in fact controlling hunger?