Earlier this week, Princeton University announced these results from a new study: rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) gained more weight than rats that consumed sucrose (table sugar). After 6 months of consuming water sweetened with HFCS, the rats gained more body weight around their midsections, and had higher levels of circulating triglycerides (fat).
While this study’s findings are a next step in unveiling the how unhealthy HFCS is, it also created controversy.
The Corn Refiners Association immediately published a release citing the study’s unreliability. Other food scientists and academics also found some weaknesses in the study. They say the study demonizes HFCS unfairly.
Tomato Talk recognizes that the study may not be perfect, but the real question is: is it fair to demonize high fructose corn syrup? Of course, we at Earth Fare think demonizing HFCS is more than fair. In fact, it is LONG overdue!
What Princeton University’s study DID accomplish is:
- It took the next step in helping consumers understand more about the unhealthiness of HFCS.
- It is the first long-term study of HFCS in animals. This is important because humans begin consuming HFCS as children and do so often.
Read those labels – high-fructose corn syrup is EVERYWHERE!
This study created so much controversy, it is important to understand the science behind the syrup!
- HFCS is not like table sugar (aka sucrose)! Table sugar is made up of glucose and fructose that are connected. HFCS is processed from corn syrup and the glucose and fructose are not connected.
- Since the molecules are disconnected, the fructose in HFCS is always free (unattached to glucose).
- Fructose is processed differently than glucose. Fructose is processed by the liver and turned into fat whereas glucose is broken down from food, absorbed in intestines and ready for use as energy by all cells.
- Unlike glucose, fructose does NOT stimulate insulin secretion or enhance leptin production. Insulin secretion and leptin production help us feel full and let us know when to stop eating.
Sucrose molecule – glucose and fructose are bonded. In HFCS, they are not bonded.
What do you think? Have you booted HFCS from your diet and noticed any changes?
“Hungry” to know more? Sites Earth Fare visited for this post:
(1) High-fructose corn syrup causes characteristics of obesity in rats: Increased body weight, body fat and triglyceride levels
(2) Latest high-fructose corn syrup study generates buzz, debate
(3) HFCS makes rats fat?
CNN reported last night that studies have proven that our brain reacts to junk food much like it does with cocaine or heroin. Junk food is addictive and its because of ingredients like high fructose corn syrup.
Jen B
March 30th, 2010 at 12:18 pmpermalink
I hope this means that those HFCS commercials won’t be shown anymore. This study basically says that HFCS is not just like sugar.
Maria
March 30th, 2010 at 12:27 pmpermalink
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by EarthFareWest: The Debate Around Recent High-Fructose Corn Syrup Study http://shar.es/mrfS0…
uberVU - social comments
March 31st, 2010 at 5:07 ampermalink
My deal with HFCS is that those commercials say that it’s just as sweet as sugar. Ok, then, if that’s the case, then why is it that every product that has HFCS in it also has sugar and/or corn syrup in addition to the HFCS…it makes no sense.
Amy C.
March 31st, 2010 at 9:08 ampermalink
After trying so hard to remove HFCS from my family’s diet I am still finding it hard in surrounding environments. Schools here just switched from sugar sweetened flavored milks to HFCS AND Sugar sweetened flavored milks. Yet another thing for me to teach my children about and boycot.
My father has adult onset Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes does NOT run in our family. My mom died at age 67… too young! We need to take care of our bodies and set the example for the next generation. My children now praise healthy eating! I am grateful for these tests. Hopefully eventually there will be something done about HFCS and it’s use in so many of our foods.
Hope
March 31st, 2010 at 9:12 ampermalink
Great question, Amy… it just is amazing how much EXTRA sugar we are adding to our foods because of HFCS. Sugar consumption is so high right now and our tastes have become accustomed to it!
earthfare
March 31st, 2010 at 9:13 ampermalink
I can tell a vast difference in my weight between drinking regular Pepsi with HFCS and with Pepsi Throwback. I actually lose weight when I drink the throwbacks. I’ve been begging Pepsi to continue making the Pepsi with sugar instead of HFCS. The change happened long ago when sugar prices soared. Now, sugar is much less expensive than HFCS. The time for change is now!
Steven L
March 31st, 2010 at 9:37 ampermalink
Wow, Hope! HFCS in milk?! I did not see that one coming. You are so correct that we need to take care of our bodies and help our children understand! They are definitely growing up in a challenging environment since these ingredients are everywhere. Thank you for being proactive and educating your children!
earthfare
April 1st, 2010 at 9:28 ampermalink
Wow, that’s amazing to hear, Steven! You are real life testimony of the effects of HFCS
earthfare
April 1st, 2010 at 9:39 ampermalink
How do I subscribe to this blog if I don’t use an RSS feed? Just wondering if I can enter my email address in somewhere. Thanks.
Lisa
April 1st, 2010 at 12:22 pmpermalink
I moved to calls itself healthy Seattle, and as a certain other northwesterner would say, you betcha! Darigold–which hammers on in ads and big no BST text on the containers, has loads of hcfs and “corn syrup solids” in chocolate, strawberry milks (check what is in the strawberry syrup though!) and also in egg nog. I refused the stuff way back in the 80s and 90s as a kid–it tasted gross in Cheerwine (my only soda!) and things like nutri grain bars were so gummy and with artificial breading… Now, I have to read left and right… As EVEN THE FOOD BAR AT WHOLE FOODS has things like crab salad with corn syrup–and I was just looking for celery in that, never thought they would resort to that vicious poison as a texture and flavor thing (I guess their fake crab wasn’t sweet like fresh stuff from Garland’s Fulcher in NC!!)
laura
April 1st, 2010 at 6:43 pmpermalink
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
physician assistant
April 13th, 2010 at 10:04 ampermalink
I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
physician assistant
April 14th, 2010 at 6:41 ampermalink
When it is not inconvenient or expensive, I shall reduce my HFCS intake.
However, I am not particularly worried and here’s why:
Reason 1: I normally do not consume much HFCS. I am not a health food junky. I even laugh or shake my head sadly sometimes when I see some of the decisions of those who are. However, I do like to cook. I like to cook from scratch using minimally processed food because they are cheaper and usually taste better. That means that in the course of the majority of my meals, my HFCS is ZERO. Cook your own meals and you’ll save money, eat better, and reduce your HFCS consumption to near zero, all without having to buy expensive specialized foods.
Reason 2: How many of you remember 15-20 years ago when the crusade for reducing/eliminating pesticides was at its strongest? One of the major rallying points was apples and apple juice. The outcry was about the pesticide on the apples and especially the quantity that made it into the apple juice. Activists touted studies that the pestiside was toxic and poison and could cause illness or death in human.
Their statement was true, however they failed to understand a simple concept. Everything is poison in the right amount. A couple ounces of salt, a couple pounds of sugar, a little over a gallon of water can all be lethal if consumed in a brief period of time.
As it turns out the LD50 (the dose required to give a human a 50% chance of dying) per apple for the feared pesticide was actually higher than a naturally occuring chemical in the apples. In other words, If you did manage to eat enough of the apples or drink enough of the “tainted” apple juice to die, It would be the natually occuring chemical that would do it, not the pesticide.
In summary, everything is poison. Focus your attention on the most effective ways to improve your health. Exercise regularly, avoid junk food, have good family relationships, and be religeous. Start with those. They will improve ones health and quality of life infinately more than stressing out about a theoretical possibility.
Kaleb
April 15th, 2010 at 11:03 ampermalink
I do wish we could get Coke sweetened with sugar. I have found it in Hawaii and Mexico an it is oh so much better tasting also. Why can’t Coke come up with it, if Pepsi has done it, why not Coke?
dietician student
April 24th, 2010 at 2:01 ampermalink
Hi Lisa! We have a coupon newsletter that you can subscribe to (you can enter your email address at the bottom of our homepage, http://www.earthfare.com), but there is currently no other way than RSS to subscribe to the blog posts.
earthfare
June 16th, 2010 at 10:55 ampermalink