Lately all you hear about is how bad high-fructose corn syrup is. That got me to thinking, what is the difference between corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup or (HFCS).
Both are sugars, and we all know sugar is not the best for your health. Plain corn syrup is simply glucose, the most basic sugar molecule. HFCS is 45% glucose and 55% fructose. The exact percentage of fructose can vary depending on the product it is used in.
The negative health consequences can be seen in the different ways that fructose and glucose are metabolized in your body. Fructose is absorbed in your small intestine and sent off to your liver for processing before it hits your bloodstream. If there is too much fructose for your liver to handle, it will be converted it into fat. "Studies in animals show that fructose intake in particular can alter your ability to control appetite, reduce your ability to burn fat, and induce features of metabolic syndrome. This includes raising blood pressure, increasing fat, and causing fatty liver and insulin resistance," says Richard Johnson, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver and author of The Fat Switch.
In comparison, corn syrup which is glucose is dumped directly into your bloodstream, ready for your tissues to soak it up and use as energy. This is why HFCS gets a lot more bad press than corn syrup.
Lets face it sugar is bad for you in any form, and we consume more than we should. The recommended amount for women is no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar each day and for men is 9 teaspoons. This is according to the American Heart Association.
To put this in perspective, a 20 oz. sugar sweetened beverage, (soda, sports drink or juice) usually contains 15 to 17 teaspoons of sugar. The average American takes in more than 22 teaspoons (352 + calories) of added sugar daily.
If weight loss is one of your goals the best place to start is reducing your sugar consumption. Sugar is one of the few foods that is actually addicting, so reducing it in your diet can be a challenge.
Sources:
Shape Magazine,
Ask the Doctor Corn Syrup Confusion, by Dr. Mike Roussell
Everything you Need to Know About Sugar, by Lindsey Emery
Both are sugars, and we all know sugar is not the best for your health. Plain corn syrup is simply glucose, the most basic sugar molecule. HFCS is 45% glucose and 55% fructose. The exact percentage of fructose can vary depending on the product it is used in.
The negative health consequences can be seen in the different ways that fructose and glucose are metabolized in your body. Fructose is absorbed in your small intestine and sent off to your liver for processing before it hits your bloodstream. If there is too much fructose for your liver to handle, it will be converted it into fat. "Studies in animals show that fructose intake in particular can alter your ability to control appetite, reduce your ability to burn fat, and induce features of metabolic syndrome. This includes raising blood pressure, increasing fat, and causing fatty liver and insulin resistance," says Richard Johnson, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver and author of The Fat Switch.
In comparison, corn syrup which is glucose is dumped directly into your bloodstream, ready for your tissues to soak it up and use as energy. This is why HFCS gets a lot more bad press than corn syrup.
Lets face it sugar is bad for you in any form, and we consume more than we should. The recommended amount for women is no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar each day and for men is 9 teaspoons. This is according to the American Heart Association.
To put this in perspective, a 20 oz. sugar sweetened beverage, (soda, sports drink or juice) usually contains 15 to 17 teaspoons of sugar. The average American takes in more than 22 teaspoons (352 + calories) of added sugar daily.
If weight loss is one of your goals the best place to start is reducing your sugar consumption. Sugar is one of the few foods that is actually addicting, so reducing it in your diet can be a challenge.
Sources:
Shape Magazine,
Ask the Doctor Corn Syrup Confusion, by Dr. Mike Roussell
Everything you Need to Know About Sugar, by Lindsey Emery
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