|
|
|
|
Home >
Publications >
| The Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2006 #3 |
| High Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Obesity |
|
|
|
|
|
The Scare: “Ubiquitous sweetener is loaded with calories.” (21) This is just one of the inaccurate headlines bandied around about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a caloric sweetener produced from cornstarch. Supposedly, because it contains fructose, HFCS is handled differently by the body than regular sugar (sucrose), and is thus more likely to cause fat to be produced and retained by the body than is sucrose or other sugars.
Origin of the Scare: HFCS was the subject of a paper about correlates of obesity first presented at a scientific meeting in 2003 and published in a journal the following year. (22) By tracking the use of HFCS in the American food supply between 1970 and 2000, the authors established that HFCS consumption increased greatly during that period—a period during which the occurrence of obesity also escalated. Although the authors of the paper stated clearly that they were alluding to overconsumption of foods and beverages containing HFCS playing a role in the obesity epidemic, that was not the message promulgated by much of the media. Frequently, allusion was made to this “unnatural” ingredient foisted on an unsuspecting public by evil food and beverage manufacturers. Few, if any, reporters noted that the concept of HFCS having a major impact on obesity was a hypothesis—not a proven scientific concept.
Media Coverage: The putative effects of HFCS consumption on body fat created a media frenzy, which has not completely died down even after 2 years of exposure and explanation. Some media outlets still tout the unproven health risks from HFCS. (22) Food critics skip the explanations, and simply refer to HFCS as “unhealthy,” and imply that it is uniquely fattening. (23,24) In one case, a food writer chose one brand of beans over another not because of differing amounts of fats or calories, but because the preferred variety used honey instead of HFCS as a sweetener—he said that HFCS is a “no-no.” (25) One writer recently likened the health threats of HFCS to those of anthrax and plutonium! (26) Misinformation abounds, as in an article that cites a physician stating that fructose increases insulin release—which it does not do. (27) Some manufacturers are now exploiting the fact that HFCS is not a “natural” ingredient as a marketing tool. (28)
The Bottom Line: In a nutshell, the truth is that HFCS is no more or less dangerous to health than is any other sugar. Its chemical composition is essentially the same as that of sucrose (table sugar), and it is digested by the gastrointestinal tract and absorbed into the body in the very same way. (29,30,31) HFCS and sugar have essentially the same number of calories per gram, and since HFCS tastes a bit sweeter than sugar, slightly smaller amounts of it could be used to attain a similar level of sweetness. If people gain weight because they’re drinking too many sweetened drinks, it’s because of the extra calories—not because of the particular sweetener used in the drinks. Finally, the obesity epidemic is not limited to the United States—it’s global. For example, in Egypt the prevalence of obesity in children has quadrupled over the past 18 years—but HFCS is not a widely used sweetener there. (32) The misinformation about HFCS still so prevalent in the media directs people’s attention away from the bottom line and succeeds in confusing, not helping, those who wish to eat healthfully and lose weight.
|
|
|
| Table of Contents |
|
Introduction
1. Trans Fatty Acids Cause Obesity and Heart Disease
2. Benzene in Soft Drinks Cause Cancer
3. High Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Obesity
4. Tuna Has Unsafe Mercury Levels
5. Nitrosamines in Bacon Cause Bladder Cancer
6. Teflon Contains a Cancer-Causing Chemical (PFOA)
7. Grilled Chicken: Another Cancer Risk?
8. Meat Packaging Threatens Consumers’ Health
9. Consumers Should Fear Chemicals in Cosmetics
10. Hormone Replacement Therapy Fears and Hype About “Natural” Alternatives
References
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Published: December 2006 |
|
| Paperback |
| ISBN: N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
