High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the main sweetener in most juices and sodas that are commercially available today. It is also a main if not the main ingredient in almost all processed food. What exactly is this substance and why is it bad for you? The sugar that is found in high fructose corn syrup is derived from corn most of which is genetically modified, is extremely sweet, seventy five percent sweeter than sugar, and far cheaper to produce than sugar from sugar cane. Prior to the 1970s most of the sugar that was used was derived from sugar cane. Fructose is a nutritionally dead substance and even worse, it leeches nutrients from the body.
The dangers of HFCS are many. This dangerous chemical substance inhibits the function of white blood cells in the body and is associated with a host of chronic health problems including obesity and diabetes. It is harmful to vital organs in the body such as the liver, heart, and pancreas. The fructose found in high fructose corn syrup is especially deadly because it converts into fat at an extremely rapid rate. Typically, excess sugar is stored by the liver and later converted into fat if it is not used up. However, with high fructose corn syrup the conversion to fat is immediate. If weight loss and all around good health is your goal you should definitely avoid high fructose corn syrup and all its derivatives.
Health & Personal Care
The Many Disguises of High Fructose Corn Syrup
HFCS wears many disguises and you need to be especially vigilant for them when you shop. Some of the many disguised labels it wears are "corn syrup," "fruit fructose," "glucose syrup," "crystalline fructose," "chicory," "tapioca syrup," and many others. Many of these products claim to be "all-natural" or "100% natural"and boldly place these claims on their labels. The manufacturers of these products also spend lots of money on advertising campaigns to convince you that they are all-natural.
"Crystalline fructose" is an especially deadly form of HFCS. It has a significantly higher percentage of fructose in addition to dangerous chemicals like arsenic and chlorine and metals such as lead. Almost all processed foods contain high fructose corn syrup or some version of it. You will find it in soft drinks and fruit juice. But it is also in breakfast cereals, mayonnaise, peanut butter and jellies, ketchup, yogurt, cookies, candy, mustard, canned soup, potato chips, pancake syrup, beer, and the list goes on.
So what's a person to do you might ask? Starve to death? Not quite. One very effective way to drastically reduce if not completely eliminate the dangers of high fructose corn syrup from your diet is to purchase and use organic produce instead and try to eat whole foods rather than processed foods more often. Organic produce contains up to 40 percent more antioxidants and higher levels of beneficial minerals like zinc and iron than their conventional counterparts. Go for organic instead of junk processed foods and you will see a great improvement in your health.
High Fructose Corn Syrup - Junk Food Dressed For Success
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