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• Health Concerns About HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup

Health Concerns About HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup

Recently is came out that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is extremely unhealthy and has a growing number of researchers, health care providers, and consumers, very concerned. HFCS is a bi-product of corn, mostly genetically modified corn, and it has replaced refined sugar. HFCS is on everything from breads, sodas, condiments, and most everything else that has a sweetener additive. It has replaced sugar because of the costs and the fact that corn is a subsidized commodity. The world has an abundance of corn therefore large food corporations have to get rid of it somehow. The bi-products from corn are in absolutely everything, including the gasoline in most cars. It has also dominated as an ingredient in almost all foods on the shelves of super markets today. Since HFCS has been demonized, the food giants have even changed the name to be "corn sugar" which is nothing more than a processed synthetic form of sugar called fructose. It should be known that there are many, many types of sugars found in nature, sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc., and they all perform in the body differently.

Debating whether refined sugar or corn sugar is good for the health is actually quite silly because neither are especially good for the diet, however fructose is in foods that one would not normally associate with having any sugary additives, such as bread, margarine, juices, dietary drinks, and condiments. Today the studies are so conflicting about HFCS and its affects on the body, but all sugar should be ingested in moderation. Because it is still unclear, it is important for consumers to read labels carefully because it is not just fructose sugars that are in foods. Avoiding fructose today is very difficult unless eating whole fresh foods, however even then fructose is likely present. Researcher are all over the "corn sugar" debate from both sides of the market, consumers and manufacturers. When concluding ones findings about HFCS, take note whom the researcher is funded by. Many concerned health care providers are savvy to the fact that many studies are backed by the food manufacturers. Food activists can be found on many levels and are more active today in their campaigns than ever before. Since food is strictly controlled by the government, consider the sources of the information provided with a close eye. The unfortunate fact is consumers will be torn between their own knowledge, food marketing techniques, and availability.