| High Fructose Corn SyrupBefore we get to high | | | | not stimulate insulin production and also fails to |
| fructose corn syrup (HFCS), we will take a look at | | | | increase "leptin" production, a hormone produced by |
| two other frequently used sweeteners, dextrose and | | | | the body's fat cells. Both of these act to turn off the |
| maltodextrin.DextroseDextrose is more or less an | | | | appetite and control body weight. Also, fructose |
| industry term for glucose. Glucose isthe most | | | | does not suppress ghrelin, a hormone that works to |
| prevalent sugar in the human and the only molecule | | | | increase hunger. This interesting work is being done |
| that the brain can metabolize. Dextrose is refined | | | | by Peter Havel at UC Davis.Some of the problems |
| from corn starch. It has a very high glycemic index | | | | associated with high fructose corn syrup:Increased |
| (no surprise since it is glucose) and while it contains | | | | LDL's (the bad lipoprotein) leading to increasedrisk of |
| no fructose, it is still a simple sugar that is very | | | | heart disease.Altered Magnesium balance leading to |
| readily absorbed. It is not as dangerous as sucrose | | | | increased osteoporosis.Increased risk of Adult Onset |
| but it still is a highly processed product that should be | | | | Diabetes Mellitus.Fructose has no enzymes or vitamins |
| avoided.MaltodextrinMaltodextrin is also a refined | | | | thus robbing the body ofprecious |
| product usually made from either corn or potatoes. It | | | | micro-nutrients.Fructose interacts with birth control |
| is multiple glucose units somewhat loosely hooked | | | | pills and can elevateinsulin levels in women on the |
| together (a polymer). Because the bonds between | | | | pill.Accelerated aging.Fructose inhibits copper |
| the glucose units are very weak, it is also very | | | | metabolism leading to a deficiencyof copper, which |
| readily absorbed and has a very high glycemic index. | | | | can cause increased bone fragility, anemia, ischemic |
| Like dextrose it should be avoided as much as | | | | heart disease and defective connective tissue |
| possible. It has been called a "sugar substitute"but | | | | formation among others.The list below is from The |
| that is based on a rather strict definition of sugar as | | | | San Francisco Chronicle February 18, 2004"How much |
| "sucrose." It is a very common additive and I have | | | | is too much?The list below shows how much sugar, |
| found it in many packaged foods, including potato | | | | mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is in |
| chips.High Fructose Corn SyrupHigh fructose corn | | | | each of these single servings.Sunkist soda: 10 1/2 |
| syrup is made by treating corn (which is usually | | | | teaspoons of sugarBerkeley Farms low-fat yogurt |
| genetically modified corn) with a variety of enzymes, | | | | with fruit: 10 teaspoons of sugarMott's applesauce: 5 |
| some of which are also genetically modified, to first | | | | teaspoons of sugarSlim-Fast chocolate cookie dough |
| extract the sugar glucose and then convert some of | | | | meal bar: 5 teaspoons of sugar1 tablespoon ketchup: |
| it into fructose, since fructose tastes sweeter than | | | | 1 teaspoon of sugarHansen's Super Vita |
| glucose. The end result is a mixture of 55% fructose | | | | orange-carrot Smoothie: 10 teaspoons of |
| and 45% glucose, that is called "high fructose corn | | | | sugar"Today's health tip:Cut down or stop any food |
| syrup." Improvements in production occurred in the | | | | or drink with high fructose corn syrup.High fructose |
| 1980's making it cheaper than most other | | | | corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn |
| sweeteners. I remember in the 1980's when the price | | | | treated with genetically modified enzymes.Stop or |
| of Pepsi dropped from about $3 for a sixpack to | | | | limit all foods with either dextrose or |
| about $1.50. In 1966 refined sugar such as sucrose | | | | maltodextrin.Once again, read all your food labels |
| was the was the leading sweetener / additive. In | | | | carefully.Consumption of the limited amounts of |
| 2001 corn sweeteners accounted for 55% of the | | | | fructose that occur in fresh whole organic fruit is not |
| sweetener market. Consumption of high fructose | | | | a problem.Reference:Stryer Biochemistry Fourth |
| corn syrup went from zero in 1966 to 62.6 pounds | | | | Edition"Sugar coated |
| per person in 2001. A 12 ounce soda can contain as | | | | We're drowning in high fructose corn syrup. |
| much as 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high | | | | Do the risks go beyond our waistline?" |
| fructose corn syrup.Once again, the dangerous | | | | Kim Severson, San Francisco Chronicle Staff |
| combination: fructose and glucose.When high fructose | | | | Writer |
| corn syrup breaks down in the intestine, we once | | | | Wednesday, February 18, 2004Kick the "sugar habit" |
| again find near equal amounts of glucose and | | | | with the only diet that is 100% Sugar-Free, the |
| fructose entering the bloodstream. As covered in | | | | MericleDiet. |
| recent newsletters, the fructose short-circuits the | | | | Make the transition away from dangerous sugar |
| glycolytic pathway for glucose. This leads to all the | | | | additives to healty "organic" complex |
| problems associated with sucrose. In addition, HFCS | | | | carbhydrates easy. To visit the MericleDiet follow |
| seems to be generating a few of its own problems, | | | | the link below: for your attention. |
| epidemic obesity being one of them. Fructose does | | | | |