Sugar vs. High Fructose Corn Syrup
A client recently asked me if they should avoid high fructose corn syrup. I did a little research and here latest thinking on the topic.
Experts agree that the typical American diet is too high in
sugar. Where they disagree is whether one form of sugar is more of a health
threat than another. High-fructose corn syrup has long been suspected as a
contributor to the obesity epidemic but others say it’s not any worse than other
types of sugar. Researchers have recently reported “any added sugar is bad
sugar” and contend that even honey is just as unhealthy as high-fructose corn
syrup.
Despite the recent challenge to the dangers of high-fructose
corn syrup, some researchers still believe high-fructose corn syrup is a health
threat and suspect the body does not process it the same as regular sugar. The
glucose and fructose in high-fructose corn syrup aren’t chemically bonded,
therefore more easily absorbed than table sugar is the thinking.
Other experts disagree and say the human body responds pretty
much the same. Currently, there is not enough evidence to conclude that
high-fructose corn syrup is more dangerous than other forms of sugar.
Researchers agree that excess sugar contributes to obesity and diabetes and
some feel the attention on high-fructose corn syrup may distract consumers from
the real health threat from all forms of added sugar. The American Heart
Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons (100 calories) of added sugar
per day for women and 9 (150 calories) for men.
Learn more:
“What is high-fructose corn syrup? What are the risks?” MayoClinic
“Any added sugar is bad sugar, some experts contend.” MedlinePlus
