Until the 1970s, most sugar was sucrose derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. But sugar from corn, especially high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), is now more popular because it is much less expensive to produce.
It also contains nearly twice the fructose of the sugars that came before it. Between 1980 and 1994, average fructose consumption rose from 39 pounds per year to 83 pounds per year.
Fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals, and it leeches micronutrients from the body. Unbound fructose, found in large quantities in HFCS, can interfere with the heart's use of minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium.
Fructose also reduces the affinity of insulin for its receptor, which is the principle characteristic of type 2 diabetes.
HFCS has been implicated in elevated blood cholesterol levels, and it has been found to inhibit the action of the immune system's white blood cells.
Sources:
* Weston A. Price Foundation
Omega Juicer
Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
The interesting report linked above highlights a host of health problems that have occurred as the result of the emergence of high fructose corn syrup in most processed foods.
If you haven't read the amazing scientific analysis on fructose in one of my favorite nutritional journals, I would strongly encourage you to do so as it will open your eyes to some of the major problems with this sugar that is commonly perceived to be healthy.
While some health "experts" are still debating the nutritional value of high fructose corn syrup, there's plenty of evidence to the contrary, starting with the obesity epidemic largely fueled by sugary sweet drinks.
The consumption of high fructose corn syrup not only exacerbates the obesity epidemic, it also harms organs like your liver and pancreas, leading to bone loss, anemia and heart problems, just to name a few.
So, when you hear commercials for processed food products that pretend to be "natural," like 7-Up, remember high fructose corn syrup is anything but organic or natural.
On Vital Votes, biochemist Russ Bianchi from Soquel, California warns about some of the deceptive ways that fructose is hidden in your foods:
"Watch out also folks for hidden and chemically refined HIGH FRUCTOSE that is even more concentrated and health damaging (diabetes, cardio vascular disease, cancer, hypoglycemia, Syndrome X, obesity, etc.) intentionally MISLABELED, or DECEPTIVELY legally noncompliant like: 'chicory', 'inulin', 'iso glucose', 'glucose-fructose syrup', 'dahlia syrup', 'tapioca syrup', 'glucose syrup', 'corn syrup', 'crystalline fructose' and flat out fraud 'fruit fructose', or criminally prosecuted and non Generally Recognized As Safe human red blood membrane cell destroying, and spontaneous abortion triggering, 'agave' ..."
Other responses to this article can be viewed at Vital Votes, and you can add your own thoughts or vote on comments by first registering at Vital Votes.
