Since the 1970s, food companies that create processed foods have been using high fructose corn syrup in their products. High fructose corn syrup is an artificial sugar that is cheap to use and often gives food the same taste and results of sugar. However, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding high fructose corn syrup in recent years. Many scientists have wondered why so many people have gotten obese over the course of the last few decades, and many of them point out that HFCS may have played a role in this development. However, there have not been enough tests performed to say whether or not this is actually true. Still, there are some things that you need to know about high fructose corn syrup. Here are some of the facts and some of the hype surrounding it.
Fact: Your Body Breaks Down HFCS More Slowly Than Sugar
Because high fructose corn syrup is an artificial product that is used in many foods, your body is not equipped to process and digest it quickly. In fact, studies have shown that, while your body is capable of breaking down natural sugar in about 24 hours, it can take you nearly four days to properly digest a serving of high fructose corn syrup. This is one reason many scientists feel as though it may be bad for you.
Hype: High Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Weight Gain
While high fructose corn syrup does take a long time to make its way through your body, there have not been enough studies performed yet to prove that it causes you to gain weight. In fact, the problem right now is that so many foods that are not good for you contain high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, scientists are having trouble proving whether it's the high fructose corn syrup or the calories in these foods that causes people to gain weight over the years.
Fact: Natural Sugar Is Better for You Than HFCS
Some experts have argued that a sugar is a sugar, no matter what form it takes. But there are natural sugars that are found in fruits and vegetables that the body seems to process more quickly. If you're trying to maintain a healthy diet, you might be best served by sticking to these foods when creating your diet for yourself.
Hype: High Fructose Corn Syrup Is Always Bad for You
Because high fructose corn syrup is present in so many foods, it's hard to avoid eating it. But like everything else, eating foods with high fructose corn syrup in moderation is probably your best bet.
Fact: Fast Foods Are High in High Fructose Corn Syrup
Fast foods are, not surprisingly, some of the worst foods that you can eat. They are loaded with high fructose corn syrup. More importantly, they're loaded with calories. As scientists continue to study the effects of high fructose corn syrup on the human body, they will no doubt look to the country's love of fast food. If you eat a lot of fast food, you should try to cut it out of your diet to maintain a healthy food plan.
These are just some of the facts and the hype surrounding high fructose corn syrup. Expect more to come out as additional studies are released in the future.
