Alternatives to High Fructose Corn Syrup Essay

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an inexpensive syrup created by changing about half of the particles comprising corn starch into fructose. Due to the cheapness of HFCS it has replaced natural sugars in most of the food consumed in America. Resulting in HFCS being found in just about all processed foods made today. Consuming any kind of sweetener has shown to greatly increase the chances of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome (Zeratsky, 2015). Since the invention of HFCS American obesity rates went from fifteen percent of the population to around one third of the population suggesting a strong

Abstract: The use of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener in various food and drink products has drastically affected the American people in the last three decades. Dominating 55% of the sweetener market because of its industrial benefits, HFCS’s increased use has caused dramatic effects in its consumers, including upsetting normal hormonal functions, destroying vital organs, nerves, and throwing off the body’s mineral balance. As the use of HFCS increased, the rates of obesity, diabetes, and related health problems have escalated, resulting in a nationwide epidemic.

Thesis: Overall, recent studies have shown that sugar substitutes isn’t and can cause potential health problems.

High fructose corn syrup is one of the main causes of the rise in obesity rates in america. In Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma he writes “National health and nutrition examination survey results from 1976 to 2006 show an alarming increase in the percentage of obese children ages 6-19” pg.92, This is especially important because along with obesity means risks of diabetes, heart disease, shorter life span, and many other unpleasant things. Michael Pollan also writes “every year approximately 500 million bushels of corn are turned into hfcs. One bushel of corn yields 33 pounds of hfcs, that's more than 16 billion pounds of hfcs a year” pg.93. Which is a lot of high fructose corn syrup that is being manufactured and

High-fructose corn syrup is a commonly used artificial sweetener in foods. High-fructose corn syrup is a hydrolyzed version of ordinary corn syrup, which is produced via a steeping process. It is so widely used because it is both economically favorable and it helps to preserve food for extended periods of time. However, the drawbacks of high-fructose corn syrup include issues like potential obesity, diabetes, loss of liver function, malnutrition, and cancer. The fact that the producers of high-fructose corn syrup can deceive people that HFCS is harmless makes matters worse.

High fructose corn syrup is a by-product derived from corn and a sweetener used in a plethora of food items, such as beverages and processed food. High fructose corn syrup differs than table sugar in composition: high fructose corn syrup is made of either 55% of fructose and 45% glucose, or 58% fructose and 42% glucose, while white table sugar is composed of 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Although there is a small difference between the compositions, the body metabolizes high fructose corn syrup differently than table sugar, which contributes to a myriad of health problems such as obesity, liver scarring, and diabetes. Therefore, high fructose corn syrup is detrimental to our health and can cause severe damage to our bodies.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the main sweetener in most juices and sodas that are commercially available today. It is also a main if not the main ingredient in almost all processed food. What exactly is this substance and why is it bad for you? The sugar that is found in high fructose corn syrup is derived from corn most of which is genetically modified, is extremely sweet, seventy five percent sweeter than sugar, and far cheaper to produce than sugar from sugar cane. Prior to the 1970s most of the sugar that was used was derived from sugar cane. Fructose is a nutritionally dead substance and even worse, it leeches nutrients from the body.

This research essay will investigate the effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The liver is effected because the fructose—as it is being metabolized deposits fatty acids into the liver, it also develops cirrhosis, which has the same effect normally seen in alcoholics. High Fructose Corn Syrup increases cholesterol which blocks the inner walls of the arteries and may be fatal if not treated. High Fructose Corn Syrup was believed to be beneficial to diabetics, but studies show the they may actually promote more diseases. Obesity is a major problem, as High Fructose Corn Syrup does not release leptin—which is what signals the brain to stop eating, so society is prone to over consumption. It also alters the heart's use of other

Sugar is, and has always been, unavoidable; conversely, sugar has not always been toxic. Naturally abundant and technically enhanced, this substance has followed in the footsteps of tobacco and alcohol, becoming just as unhealthy and ultimately lethal. And, without the implementation of government

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a popular sweetener used that hides in anything from ketchup, yogurts, and a variety of beverages. High fructose corn syrup unlike the other sweeteners provides calories. High fructose corn syrup is made from glucose that is initially from corn. It is widely popular to manufacturers because of it equality in sweetness to table sugar, it blends well with foods, has a good shelf life, and is less expensive. There are two main types of high fructose corn syrup. The first one is HFCS-55, this is popularly found mostly in sodas and contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose. The second on is HFCS-42, widely found in desserts, canned fruit syrups, and baked goods (Lakhan 5) . It contains 42% fructose and 58% glucose. Normal sugar as well contains fructose and glucose. It is made of 50% fructose and 50% glucose. And both High fructose corn syrup and sugar contain 4 calories per gram. So, what is the difference? In normal sugar (sucrose) the bond between fructose and glucose are chemically bonded and the body needs to digest sucrose to break the chemical bond before the body can absorb the fructose and glucose into the bloodstream. High fructose corn syrup on the other hand are just blended together which concludes that it does not need to be digested before it goes through the metabolic system and is absorbed into the bloodstream. HFCS became popular in the food industry in the late 1970s, right when obesity increased in many Americans.

Health concerns have been raised about high fructose corn syrup, which allege contribution to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that the highly processed substance is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by affecting normal appetite functions and that in some foods HFCS may be a source of mercury a known neurotoxin. Yeah, a NEUROTOXIN!

The source I found credible “Sugar 101” on the American Heart Association’s website instantly stood out to me because it’s a nonprofit organization identified by the fact that the web address is www.heart.org. All of the information on the website is well organized not just pertaining to what I searched

First off, let’s explore the two sugars that are consumed the most. The first is sucrose. Sucrose is the sugar that we inquire on our kitchen tables and use to sweeten bland foods such as cereal and coffee to help brighten the taste. What many people may not know is that the prepackaged meals we are making for a quick lunch or dinner are loaded with sucrose. Sucrose if heated very carefully and at the right temperature will turn into caramel. This process is called caramelization as the crystallized sucrose breaks down into several different sugar types it will give you the taste and color of caramel (Lustig). The next time you eat a bullseye or have a caramel covered apple you will be prone to knowing that you are consuming straight

The debate between naturally derived sugars and low-calorie artificial sweeteners has been going on for years now. As our population’s obesity rate grows every year and health concerns related to weight-control grows along with it, natural sugar is scrutinized and we are told to keep away from it as it is our enemy. Over the last couple of decades, we have been introduced to more and more varieties of artificial sweeteners promising to deliver the same sweetness or even more sweetness than natural sugar (some offer as much as 200 times more sweetness than sugar) but with a much lower calorie content, or some even no calories at all. Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Sweet n’ Low, NutraSweet, and Equal have become popular as “better alternatives” to table sugar, promising to help battle weight gain and actually assist in losing weight. However, does this make it the healthier option? As with all things, both natural sugar and artificial sugar have their pros and cons, but in order to find the best option in regards to our health and futures, it’s important to weigh them according to scientific findings and research.

Controversies, Infobase Learning, 26 July 2010, http://icof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?ID=2311. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017. This source was written in order to discuss the benefits and harms of using artificial sweeteners in place of sugar. This article was published in the Issues and Controversies database; therefore it has been used in academic writing previously. We can conclude that the source is unbiased and credible. It compared the high health risks of sugar to the very low health risks of artificial sweeteners. Also extensively covered, is the history and development of artificial sweeteners, and the opposing opinions on both. This source is lengthier than many similar ones, and contains more factual information and research-backed claims. Of all the sources, this one supports the thesis the most by providing