Maybe you’ve seen the commercial. There are two people in the park. You turn down a soda saying you don’t want the high fructose corn syrup. The other chides him that it comes from corn, so it’s natural and, in moderation, part of a healthy diet.
One of these guys is wrong!
The truth is, high fructose corn syrup is not natural. It has been chemically altered to enhance its sweetness. And it’s certainly not part of a healthy diet. Research shows that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can damage your organs, cause weight gain, and increase your insulin resistance, leading to diabetes.
The deadly truth behind this popular sweetener
Food manufacturers like high fructose corn syrup because it’s cheap, super sweet, and has a long shelf life.
Unfortunately, once it’s in your body, there’s not much good to say about it. It disrupts your metabolism and puts you at higher risk for diabetes in many ways.
Once upon a time, doctors recommended fructose to people with diabetes because it is absorbed more slowly by your body. It also doesn’t cause the same blood sugar spikes as glucose. It turns out that these “benefits” are actually part of the reason behind the dangers of HFCS.
Your body absorbs fructose more slowly because it has to be metabolized by the liver, unlike glucose, which can be absorbed and used by every cell in your body. Because it is only metabolized in the liver, fructose does not trigger insulin production in the pancreas. So instead of being used by cells, fructose is usually stored as fat.
High fructose corn syrup is so harsh on the liver that it can actually cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). One of the complications of NAFLD is insulin resistance.
To use fructose, your body must supply a number of minerals such as magnesium, copper, and chromium. Depletion of these minerals, especially chromium, interferes with the production and use of insulin…and that’s the first step toward diabetes. HFCS also affects the function of insulin receptors on your cells. That leads to insulin resistance and, again, an increased risk of diabetes.
Finally, when you eat HFCS, it doesn’t make you feel full. People who eat a lot of foods that contain HFCS are likely to consume more calories and are likely to be overweight or obese. Obesity is another risk factor for diabetes.
How to immediately improve your health and drastically reduce… your risk of diabetes
As you can see, high fructose corn syrup contributes to diabetes in a number of ways. Minerals that are critical for proper insulin production are depleted. Damage your liver. Leads to weight gain. It directly contributes to insulin resistance.
The average American gets 25% of their calories from sugar. Most of it comes from HFCS. That is a recipe for disaster.
But you don’t have to wait for disaster to strike. You can make three simple changes right now that will drastically reduce your HFCS consumption. As a result, you’ll likely lose weight, your liver will be healthier, and your body will be better able to deal with the other sugars you eat.
First, eliminate sodas and sweetened fruit juices from your diet. Drink water, tea or coffee instead.
Second, start reading the labels of any packaged or processed foods you buy. If a product contains HFCS, look for an alternative.
Third, start eating more high-fiber foods. Fiber slows the absorption of fructose and reduces the negative effects. That’s why fruit, which contains fructose and fiber, remains a healthy choice.
High fructose corn syrup is simply not good for you. It puts you in danger of becoming overweight, developing liver disease, and becoming diabetic. If you want to be healthy and full of energy, eliminating HFCS is a good start.
