You’ve probably heard warnings about high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). You’ve heard that HFCS is responsible for the obesity epidemic. You’ve heard that you should go for products made with regular sugar instead.
Perhaps someone has cited studies that link high fructose diets with heart disease. They’ve talked about how fructose doesn’t act the same way as glucose in the body.
They’re right–except that they’re wrong.
High fructose diets are linked with heart disease. And fructose does act differently than glucose. But High Fructose Corn Syrup is not the problem.
There are two types of HFCS: a syrup that is 42% fructose (HFCS-42), and a syrup that is 55% fructose (HFCS-55). HFCS-42 is used in baked goods and non-carbonated drinks, whereas HFCS-55 is used primarily in carbonated drinks.
Table sugar, on the other hand, is 50% fructose. So, depending on which “version” of HFCS you’re talking about, HFCS either has slightly more or slightly less fructose than “regular sugar”.
So a high fructose DIET might cause problems–but high fructose CORN SYRUP is not the culprit (since high fructose corn syrup and sugar contain very similar proportions of fructose.)
Increased sugar intake is the problem, regardless of its source. Americans are consuming more calories than ever, and more and more of those calories are coming from sugar (either HFCS or table sugar). This is contributing to an overall increase in fructose consumption–and an overall increase in calorie consumption.
So, if you want to do what’s best for your health, don’t worry about choosing BETWEEN regular sugar or HFCS. Instead, work on cutting down sugar intake altogether (regardless of the source).
Today’s B3,RD challenge is to avoid the anti-HFCS hype and instead work on choosing a lower-sugar version of your favorite snack or soft-drink (or just eat/drink less of the high-sugar version.)
Hmm, willing model? Maybe… :)
OK, B3,RD, a few questions for you:
What’s your take on artificial sweeteners? What about stevia?
How about the way the HFCS industry affects farmers? I don’t know much about it – something about HFCS affecting the price of corn, and that affecting the price of feed for dairy and beef farms. Just thought I’d pick your brain. :)
I’m really enjoying these B3,RD posts!
I’ll be posting on sweeteners all week long–and I’ll make sure to include stevia in my list to address.
As far as how the HFCS industry affects farmers, this is definitely not my area of expertise. However, I do have some thoughts on the matter. I started to write them out, but discovered they’d be much too long for a comment–so I’ll be making an additional post on the topic shortly.