High fructose corn syrup can trace its origins back to 1957, when scientists discovered how to turn glucose, an enzyme found in corn, into fructose, a type of sugar typically present in fruit and honey. By the 1970s, the additive was being manufactured on a widespread level. Around this time, corn producers were blessed with a major stroke of good luck; new sugar tariffs and quotas went into effect in 1977, which made importing sugar a much more expensive undertaking. Faced with increased production costs, soda giants began looking for a substitute. In 1984, these companies found their answer in high fructose corn syrup. With the full endorsement of the world's biggest soft-drink producers, high fructose corn syrup had entered into the mainstream.
Today, HFCS is everywhere, even in places where you would least expect it. The sweetener can be found in supposedly healthy foods, such as juices, healthy breakfast cereals, yogurt, salad dressings, breads and nutrition bars. Even items not usually considered sweet are often made with HFCS, including barbecue sauce, pickles, jelly, ketchup and applesauce. Not surprisingly, HFCS is widely used in candy bars, and in sodas of all types.
HFCS and Your Health
So why is high fructose corn syrup so bad for your health? For starters, it can expand your waistline; in fact, America's growing problem with obesity began in earnest in the late 1970s, around the same time that HFCS was introduced into food supply. In recent years, studies have linked these two trends. One such report was a 2004 study by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which noted that "the increased use of HFCS in the United States mirrors the rapid increase in obesity."
These findings were further reinforced by a 2010 study by Princeton University. For the Princeton study, researchers fed cane sugar to one set of rats, while giving HFCS to another. When comparing the two sets of rodents, the Princeton team found rats that ingested HFCS gained significantly more weight, and were especially vulnerable to abnormal increases in abdominal fat. In addition, rats who consumed HFCS also displayed characteristics associated with obesity, such as excessive body fat and increases in circulating blood fats (known as triglycerides).
A larger pants size isn't the only effect that HFCS can have on your body. A 2007 study by the American Chemical Society reported that drinks loaded with HFCS were brimming with reactive carbonyls, radioactive compounds which can potentially cause diabetes through cell and tissue damage. A 2009 University of California study offered additional damning evidence concerning the syrup's effects on human health. Though the study featured a small sampling size (16 participants), it found that increased consumption of HFCS formed additional fat cells around the participants' heart, liver and digestive organs. The subjects also exhibited food-processing problems linked to diabetes and heart disease.
High fructose corn syrup can also wreak havoc with your blood pressure, liver and kidneys. A report issued by Medical News Today noted that 2 ½ sugar-heavy drinks per day, containing approximately 74mg of HFCS, would be sufficient enough to raise your risk of high blood pressure by 28 to 87 percent. High fructose corn syrup can lead to steady fat buildup around the liver, a development that can have long-term repercussions for the organ, including cirrhosis and liver scarring. A small amount of the sweetener also winds up in your kidneys, where it can produce uric acid, a waste product that in high levels may trigger kidney disease.
Adjusting Your Diet
High fructose corn syrup may have an almost ubiquitous presence at the supermarket, convenience store and other food outlets, but it can still be avoided. Here are some simple steps that can help you cut out this artificial additive out of your diet
- Cut out sodas from your diet
- Buy juices that are made of 100% Juice
- Avoid fast food and processed foods
- Always check food labels for HFCS
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