High Fructose Corn Syrup:
Take A Deeper Look
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that is widely used in commercial foods and food products. It acts as not only a sweetener but also as a preservative which aids in offering a longer shelf life for any product. A longer shelf life means less money is wasted at the manufacturing and retail level plus less overall food waste for the consumer by offering a longer storage life in your home.
The product is made by changing the sugar, or glucose, in cornstarch into fructose. Fructose is another form of sugar. This results in a product that contains both sugar and fructose. This product is cheaper to use than sugar, which is another reason for its popularity. It helps the manufacturer to control his costs during production. It can be found in many popular food and drink items such as soda, fruit flavored drinks, breads, sweets, and other processed foods.
There has been mixed data on the effects of this product. Some claim that it is unhealthy to be using and state that it is one of the leading causes of obesity. Others claim that it is no more harmful than other sweeteners because it does not have any more calories than other types of sugar. The problem stems from over-consumption of calorie-laden foods. One thing that can be agreed upon is the necessity to use moderation when consuming products that may be high in calories.
Public opinion though is growing against the use of HFCS quite rapidly. Because of this, a movement has been initiated by the Corn Refiners Assn. to change the name to "corn sugar". Anytime, in the upcoming months to years you read corn sugar on an ingredient label, they are referring to high fructose corn syrup.
How To Avoid Foods That Are Not Nutritious
This may be total common sense but it really is very important, especially when dealing with children. While the occasional snack or soda will not be too detrimental, try to avoid using a lot of products that have a high calorie content and
little to no nutritional value. There are a few easy ways to do this.
- Drink less soda overall- switch to water, milk or small amounts of 100% fruit juices
- When you buy canned fruit look for the kind that comes in its own juice instead of in heavy syrup. It tastes just as good, but has far fewer calories.
- Avoid foods that contain added sugar- use 100% all-natural products as much as possible.
Making An Informed Decision
While the battle surrounding high fructose corn syrup may continue to rage, you can do your best to stay informed and learn all that you can so that you will be able to
make educated decisions about you and your family's health and nutrition.
Return to "Types Of Allergies"
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*Disclaimer*This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
