by Pamela Kay

Created on: August 27, 2008   Last Updated: April 03, 2011

While recent television advertisements deny that high fructose corn syrup is detrimental to your health, clinical studies tell a different story. While you may find it difficult to believe that a golden ear of corn could cause damage to your body, the really difficult thing to believe is how much damage it does cause. This article attempts to answer in simple lay terms that anyone can understand what the side effects of high fructose corn syrup are and how seriously they are affecting the health of the world.

*It's Always About Money

AT the same time that manufacturers began switching from table sugar (sucrose) to high fructose corn syrup in the 1970s, the obesity rates started to climb. Why did manufacturers make the switch? They discovered that high-fructose corn syrup was sweeter and therefore cheaper and we have been paying the price in bad health ever since.

*High Insulin Levels

High insulin levels are the root cause of nearly every chronic disease: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, aging, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Name it, and you will find raised insulin levels to be the primary factor. Unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion, which acts as one of several hormones that tell the body it has eaten enough. Also, when there is more fructose available than insulin, the body's cells can absorb less vitamins.

*Weight Gain

The body digests and absorbs glucose and fructose differently. Unlike glucose, which the body uses, fructose it is an unregulated source of fuel, which the liver converts to fat and cholesterol. Fructose converts to fat more than any other sugar. Fructose doesn't enhance leptin production. Leptin is a hormone that works with insulin to regulate how much you eat. Without these, you overeat and gain weight.

*Empty Calories

There are no vitamins, minerals or enzymes in fructose, so it takes micro-nutrients from the body as it assimilates itself for use. Fresh fruits contain the vitamins, minerals and enzymes, which are needed for the fructose they contain to assimilate in the body. Corn is a grain, not a vegetable and making it a dietary staple, which high fructose corn syrup has become, will cause anemia, cavities, osteoarthritis, and other health problems.

*Liver and Pancreas

A diet loaded with high fructose corn syrup not only intensifies the obesity epidemic, it also harms organs like your liver and pancreas, leading to bone loss, anemia and heart problems.

*Heart and Immune System

High fructose corn syrup can interfere with the heart's use of minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium and inhibits the action of the immune system's white blood cells. It is also known to raise triglycerides significantly, especially in men, which can lead to heart problems.

*Cholesterol

According to the Natural News website, high fructose corn syrup is part of what researchers call metabolic syndrome, which includes the elevation of blood cholesterol levels, which in turn leads to plaque in the arteries and heart attacks.

*Metabolism

Most fructose is consumed as a liquid and is metabolized to fat faster than any other sugar. This greatly increases the negative effects to metabolism. The devastation to our bodies would be drastically reduced if it were consumed in solid food form.

Unfortunately, it's hard to escape this harmful additive to our foods today. It is touted as natural and safe for consumption, because it is made from corn, but it's far from natural or safe. It's found in soft drinks, fruit juices, baked goods, canned fruits, gum and even jams and jellies. What are the side effects of high fructose corn syrup? A shorter, unhealthy life.

Sources

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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