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High Fructose Corn Syrup - Yum, Yum!

sugar_cubes_200_300.jpgThe other day Sharon and I were walking past a 7-11 Store on Danforth near Greenwood.  As we passed by the store, two teenagers came out carrying HUGE Big Gulp mugs.  We looked at each other, rolled our eyes and shook our heads.  You see, we know how much sugar is in one of those drinks.

I don't know what size they were carrying but I can tell you that the smallest Big Gulp is 32 oz. (28 oz. of soda and 4 oz of ice).  That size has 91 grams of sugar for a whopping 364 useless, tooth rotting calories.  That doesn't sound like much until you put that into perspective.  91 grams of sugar is equal to 21.7 teaspoons of sugar in each drink.  Imagine spooning 21.7 teaspoons of sugar into your coffee or tea - total insanity.  No wonder our kids can't sit still in school or focus on anything - WOW!!!!  In fact, those kids were getting more sugar in that one drink than our ancestors got in one year.  No wonder that Type 2 Diabetes is getting epidemic in our younger generation.

I think that is bad enough but it gets worse.  The most popular sweetener used in prepared foods these days is high fructose corn syrup.  It is a popular ingredient in corn_syrup_200x300.jpgsodas, fruit flavored drinks and most processed foods because it's cheap.  It has become a staple alternative to cane sugar in many foods and beverages, but is it safe?  There has been much controversy and debate over the health effects from long-term usage of high-fructose corn syrup.   So far, research has yielded mixed results about its adverse consequences.

High consumption of added sugar in any form can lead to numerous health problems, including weight gain, dental cavities, poor nutrition and increased risks of heart attacks or diabetes. While the health concerns of excess sugar consumption may seem obvious, what about the specific case of high-fructose corn syrup?  Should we go out of our way to exclude it from our diet, even in moderate consumption?
High-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are not biochemically identical - cane sugar is a naturally occurring ingredient, whereas high-fructose corn syrup is an industrial product, and is processed differently by the body than naturally occurring sugar [1].  Sometimes high-fructose corn syrup is produced from genetically modified corn [2].

A study at Princeton University [3] found that rats from two test groups, one that consumed high-fructose corn syrup and another standard table sugar, yielded different results in the rats' obesity -- even with the same caloric intake.  The group of rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup experienced abnormal weight gain - particularly in the abdominal region - and also elevated triglyceride levels.  Along with high quantities of LDL, otherwise known as bad cholesterol, high triglyceride levels can cause arterial blockage and may increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension and even strokes.

Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes [4].  An increased risk of diabetes was observed from the metabolic profile in the study of rats that were given sugar-sweetened beverages, exhibiting impaired glucose and insulin homeostasis.

Long-term liver damage has been cited as a side effect to consuming high-fructose corn syrup [5].  This is particularly risky to individuals who live a sedentary lifestyle.  Excess consumption can also result in a fatty liver [6].

One indirect health concern pertaining to high-fructose corn syrup is the contamination of mercury [7].  Mercury cell chlor-alkali products are used in the manufacturing of high-fructose corn syrup, which may leave a trace of the toxic heavy metal in its products, which can be up to 0.5micrograms/g of corn syrup.  When you consider the average consumption of corn syrup as being around 50g per day, this could lead to a dangerous build up of the heavy metal in the body's system.

 
Knowledge is power and we need to be aware of these things to protect our kids - also ourselves.  Did you know that a Tim Horton's Iced Cappuccino has 250 calories and 33 grams of sugar for a total of 7.9 teaspoons of the deadly sweet stuff per serving?  How about something healthy (so-called) like an 8 oz. bottle of Minute Maid Orange Juice?  That one comes in at 110 calories and 24 grams of sugar - for a total of 5.7 teaspoons to rot your teeth (while you get healthy Vitamin C of course - lol).  Better off to drink your coffee and tea so you can control the amount of added sugar and that is cane sugar not high fructose corn syrup.

References:

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/high-fructose-corn-syrup-dangers_b_861913.html Accessed September 2011
[2]
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/high-fructose-corn-syrup-dangers/ Accessed September 2011
[3] Bocarsly ME, Powell ES, Avena NM, Hoebel BG., Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2010 Nov;97(1):101-6. Epub 2010 Feb 26.
[4] Sheludiakova A, Rooney K, Boakes RA., Eur J Nutr. 2011 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print]
[5]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322204628.htm Accessed September 2011
[6] Kretowicz M, Johnson RJ, Ishimoto T, Nakagawa T, Manitius J., Int J Nephrol. 2011;2011:315879. Epub 2011 Jul 17.
[7] Dufault R, LeBlanc B, Schnoll R, Cornett C, Schweitzer L, Wallinga D, Hightower J, Patrick L, Lukiw WJ., Environ Health. 2009 Jan 26;8:2.

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