High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener used in food. It has crept into more of our foods over the last few decades. This sweetener is made from cornstarch that is broken down into corn syrup. Enzymes are added to change some glucose into fructose.
Corn syrup is less expensive compared with common sugar. The glucose and fructose content of corn syrup are not chemically bonded but only blended. There is no need for our body to break the sugar down, so it’s easier for corn syrup to get into the bloodstream than regular table sugar. It’s often added to processed foods, soda, pasta sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, ice cream, and baked goods. No wonder these foods are not allowed when you are on the HCG injection.
High fructose corn syrup dangers: Do you know them?
- Weight gain
The use of high fructose corn syrup is linked to the rise of obesity over the past few decades. No surprise that obesity rates have soared since corn syrup was introduced.
Compared with regular sugar, it’s sweeter and more quickly absorbed into your body. It’s unhealthy because too much corn syrup can make you gain weight. It can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- Increases your risk of developing fatty liver
Fructose was originally considered a better choice for diabetes because of its lower glycemic index. However, only the liver can handle fructose, so this is where the problem begins.
When your liver gets overloaded, it turns fructose into fat. Some of these fats get lodged in the liver, contributing to fatty liver. It triggers the production of cholesterol and triglycerides. What’s worse, high fructose can irritate your intestinal wall causing a leaky gut.
- Increase appetite thus promotes obesity
HFCS alters the hormonal response of the body. This increases appetite and body fat storage promoting obesity more than regular sugar. It contributes to inflammation and even causes cirrhosis.
- Increased risk of having diabetes
Consuming too much corn syrup can lead to insulin resistance and can result in type 2 diabetes. Excess insulin in the blood affects your pancreas’s ability to do its job causing diabetes. A high insulin level can cause your body to store fat, which can lead to obesity. Additionally, high fructose corn syrup plays a role in other illnesses aside from diabetes. It’s linked to heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Should I eat foods with high fructose corn syrup?
High fructose corn syrup is an added sugar. Reducing sugar intake is essential for health regardless of whether it comes from corn syrup or regular table sugar. It’s hidden in over 80% of processed foods. It’s disguised with over 200 different names that you wouldn’t recognize.
Overconsumption of sugar is the number one cause of obesity. It contributes to a whole host of negative health effects, that’s why you should avoid them. Avoid sugar, especially if you are on the weight loss phase of the HCG diet.
