King Hoover

I Am Just Not That Sweet on You

High Fructose Corn Syrup, HFCS, Is Dangerous to Your Health…

By: King Hoover

Soda PoP It's almost February and you know what that means…no, not Valentine's Day - Super Bowl Sunday! Sure, it's going to be Cardinals versus the Steelers, but the only thing I'm interested in between now and the end of the fourth quarter is those fantastic commercials during the game.

Some of the best and most expensive advertising we see all year is during the Super Bowl. Everyone has their favorites from years past, but the commercials I want to talk about probably won't be seen this Sunday. They are fairly new and they're definitely persuasive, but what struck me about these commercials are not their characters or any high-tech gimmicks. Instead it's the apparent desperation and blatant deception they represent, the damage they can and continue to do.

By now you've easily been exposed to the High Fructose Corn Sweetener (HFCS) controversy -- you know, those ads that talk about sharing a popsicle or what your children drink and seem to clear up misconceptions about HFCS, but they reinforce some of the most dangerous falsehoods floated today. What is true is that HFCS does have the same calories as sugar and it is from a natural source - corn - but what is far from true, in light of the most recent science, is far less light-hearted than the commercials themselves.

While table sugar and HFCS are both sweet, this is where the similarity ends. Sugar or sucrose is quickly metabolized to glucose and glucose can be used by every cell in the body, but fructose must be metabolized in the liver which makes it a problem for many people. If you carry more than a few pounds of body fat, you could easily have a condition called fatty liver syndrome, as serious as it sounds, it just means that your liver function is less efficient due to fat deposits in the liver- multiplying HFCS' dark side. If you drink much alcohol, even a mild case of cirrhosis of the liver also increases your risk from using HFCS - increased body fat, elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, diabetes, the list goes on.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine reported that "bad eating habits are capable of permanently altering DNA" effectively switching off genetic protections against Diabetes and Heart Disease. The researchers at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute further stated that these gene alterations could last "months or years and may be passed down through bloodlines."


The statement in each ad, that it's 'fine in moderation,' is completely untrue if you have either of these common conditions - and because Adolescent Test Subjects were the most effected by this manufactured foodstuff's negative effects, I question if it is even safe at all for children.

Children Are Affected Too

Sadly, children are the single demographic group whose food and drinks are heavily laden with HFCS, and they are also where advertising efforts are focused to boost sales. I used to think that the responsibility for the types and quality of food our children eat lay solely with their parents; while they do bear the lion's share of liability, I applaud recent moves to shame food companies that make junk sound wonderful.

So why am I on this soapbox now? What caused me to dedicate my precious column inches to the topic at hand? I am so glad you asked…In the last 30 years in my field, sometimes a study breaks that is so powerful or disturbing that I am moved as if by an earthquake.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine reported that "bad eating habits are capable of permanently altering DNA" effectively switching off genetic protections against Diabetes and Heart Disease. The researchers at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute further stated that these gene alterations could last "months or years and may be passed down through bloodlines."

The biggest trigger in this gene mutating scenario was high levels of blood sugar. Just one sugar-binge was 'remembered' by the cells for up to 14 days, so with 'friends' like HFCS, who needs cigarettes?

What to Do?

So how do we get off the Good Ship Lollipop and back on the Love Boat? First, go through your pantry and throw away everything with HFCS on the label. If it's not there to eat, it can't hurt you. Second, try to work veggies into each meal. At breakfast, toss some broccoli, peppers, or tomatoes into your omelet; you'll boost the nutrition and the fiber will slow the rise in blood sugar. Lastly, consume starchy foods or grains only after physical activity. After exercise, your muscles soak up sugar and carbs like sponges; this is when they'll help, not hurt. I am all about surprises, but when it comes to your health, some are not so sweet.

About King Hoover

More articles by King Hoover and his contact info, go to about King Hoover.



Related Articles:

  • Sweetness - a Primer on Sugar


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    021209
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    by Cornrefiner
    High fructose corn syrup
    High fructose corn syrup, sugar, and several fruit juices are all nutritionally the same. High fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and is handled similarly by the body. The American Medical Association in June 2008 helped put to rest misunderstandings about this sweetener and obesity, stating that “high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.” Even former critics of high fructose corn syrup dispel long-held myths and distance themselves from earlier speculation about the sweetener’s link to obesity as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition releases its 2008 Vol. 88 supplement's comprehensive scientific review. Many confuse pure “fructose” with “high fructose corn syrup,” a sweetener that never contains fructose alone, but always in combination with a roughly equivalent amount of a second sugar (glucose). Recent studies that have examined pure fructose - often at abnormally high levels - have been inappropriately applied to high fructose corn syrup and have caused significant consumer confusion. In 1983, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally listed high fructose corn syrup as safe for use in food and reaffirmed that decision in 1996. Consumers can see the latest research and learn more about high fructose corn syrup at www.HFCSfacts.com and www.SweetSurprise.com. Audrae Erickson President Corn Refiners Association
    by cynthia1770
    I am just not that sweet on you..
    Hi, My google alert picked up your post. Thank you for your article. The CRA has recently blitzed us with their ad campaign, but they can't change their math. HFCS-55, which is used to sweeten all national brands of soda is composed of 55%fructose:45% glucose. While this appears to be just 5% different than sucrose, (50%fructose:50%glucose), it really isn't. 55/45=1.22. That means that every time a teen chugs a can of soda his liver is reaping the health "benefits" of 22% extra fructose, compared to glucose. The metabolic dangers of excess fructose have been well documented. Dr. Dana Flavin, M.D., has written a great summary. Ms. Audrae Erickson and her pals at the CRA are misleading us. Ditch HFCS, especially HFCS-55. To your health.