High fructose corn syrup may be one of the worst synthetic food additives in human history. That’s right – it is synthetic, not natural. And it is a poison. Here is what it does to you.
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High Fructose Corn Syrup is Synthetic
Yes, we all know that fructose is fruit sugar, because it is naturally occurring in fruit, among other plant organs. And the more erudite biochemists among us also know that fructose is one of the two monosaccharides that make up common table sugar, sucrose, the other being glucose. Also all natural.
Why, then, do I refer to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as synthetic? The reason is that HFCS is not the predominant sugar in its source, corn syrup. No, corn syrup naturally produces glucose. High glucose corn syrup is natural. Unfortunately, it is not very sweet.
Biochemists to the rescue! In just 10 easy manufacturing steps, some involving enzymes and some involving caustic reagents (occasionally containing mercury), glucose is magically (chemically) transformed into fructose. Fructose is the sweetest sugar of all, so it has become the darling of processed food manufacturers who think that our food should be sweeter.
Just a short list of foods that contain HFCS may surprise you. Take a look here to see what I mean: StopHFCS.com.
Whew! That’s a lot of food additives, don’t you think? Good thing that HFCS has been classified ‘generally recognized as safe‘ (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1976. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.
We Are Already in Trouble
I have already posted on the dangers of HFCS (see: Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup). However, I must prostrate myself before you and offer to wash your feet in absolution – I almost totally underestimated how bad this junk really is for human health.
It won’t just make you fatter than anything else you can possibly put down your gullet. It will poison you, it will shorten your life, and it will cost you, your family, and your government hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care before you kick the bucket before your time should be up.
As usual, I came across this new realization because my old college buddy, Richard Amrhein, sent me a link to the video that I’ve provided to you below. I hesitated to watch it, only because it almost 1.5 hours long. Nevertheless, when I did sit down to watch it, with a cup of coffee on a recent sunny morning in Arizona, I was flabbergasted at what I saw.
I think my mouth was wide open in awe throughout this video. If you have time to watch it, be patient for the nuggets among all the biochemistry. Of course, the biochemistry added to its appeal for me. I love that stuff, although I realize that you may not.
In case you want to skip the video for now, or for good, I’ve added a summary of one of the most pertinent slides from it below. If anything, at least take this information to heart.
Summary Slide
This is taken from Dr. Lustig’s presentation. It has all the jargon that medical people like to use. Even if you don’t understand all of it, at least get this:
Chronic fructose exposure ruins your health in many ways that simulate chronic ethanol (alcohol) exposure. Both are bad news!
Taking action against high fructose corn syrup,
Dr. D
As a naturopath in Australia, I was shocked to see that Metagenics, our top ‘practitioner only’ supplier of supplements, used it in their magnesium powders called Fibroplex Plus. I pointed this out to the Reps, and the Area Manager, and eventually sent Metagenics an email five years ago… but no response was forthcoming.So I have stopped buying these products.
Fascinating! Thank you for this gem! So, if I want something sweet and make it with my xylitol, how does that metabolize?
As a Nutritionist I have known of the poisonous nature of HFCS and the consequences. It is in so many foods. Believe it or not a doctor from the FDA tried to prevent its inception into the GRAS list and our food supply but his objections fell on deaf money hungry ears. Not sure that is in your video cause I have not had time to watch yet but I have a good idea of its content. I often wonder why it takes so long for the Truth to come out…. but following the money trail always works! Sad…
Hi, Susan:
Yes, that is too bad. Metagenics is supposed to be a gold standard for health practitioner products. Even this company sees a need to cut corners for manufacturing costs, though. That is to our disadvantage.
All the best,
Dennis
Hi, Elisabeth: Xylitol will give you a few calories, although its impact on the liver and on insulin are what is important. The main thing is that xylitol and other sugar alcohols are not as prevalent as HFCS. The exception might be sorbitol, which acts like a laxative (it is the main natural sweetener in prunes!).
All the best,
Dennis
Hi, Gail:
Students in my classes would often ask the obvious ‘why’ questions like this. The mantra that I gave them was always, ‘Follow the money’. Sad but true. The video does not mention the debate about whether to include HFCS on the GRAS list, only that it is on the list.
All the best,
Dennis
Thank you and Wow! I’m completing the HCG diet soon and was researching what I would eat after the diet to keep the weight off. In my search, I came across your video. I had no idea sugar(fructose) was so bad. I’ve always been told that my body holds on to Carbs and that’s why I was not loosing weight. Carbs are everywhere, in everything. And now, fructose in the Carbs. Will I every be able to eat another oatmeal raisin or chocolate cookie again? My husband was one who would drink 2-3 20 oz cokes a day and have a quart of Gustafson chocolate milk every morning. Your video was a very scary eye opener. Thank you for your insight. Any good books on how to do this, how to eat/cook without all this bad stuff?
Hi, Tracy:
I was like you husband for a lot of years. Then aging metabolism caught up with me, as it always does. Your body probably holds onto fluids because of the carbs. Glad you see the light now. As for recipes, I haven’t yet experimented with the ones that Dr. Davis offers in his Wheat Belly book, although they seem to be right on target. Start there and see how you like it. Have fun! Stay slim!
All the best,
Dennis
There are quite a few catch phrases that you will find on labels that you might want to be wary about. These are misleading advertising. I can think of at least one of those phrases: fructose free’ The product might not have fructose syrup, but it doesn’t mean that it is sugar free. So you should check the ingredients on the back of the label.
I understand that idea behind losing weight and keeping it off and how it is suppose to help you be more healthy but I have also heard the statement made recently that some people don’t have to be thin in order to be healthy, in fact my husband is overweight and his blood pressure is lower than that of a runner.
Here are some fun facts for those with a sweet tooth. Until 1957, no one believed corn could be sweet. As for high fructose corn syrup, how could that be? Corn has glucose not fructose. Researchers created an enzyme called glucose isomerase in 1957. It rearranged the composition of glucose in corn syrup and made it into fructose. It turned a mildly sweet corn syrup into the highly sweet high fructose corn syrup.
There was a time when “fruit flavored” and “cheese flavored” meant “made with real fruit” and “made with real cheese.” Today? It’s artificial everything. Most of the food at your local supermarket is no more authentic than Snooki’s tan. Our fruit comes packaged in Loops, our cheese delivered via Whiz. Sure, it’s edible, but there’s no way your great grandparents would recognize this junk as food.
I would say that most people would be surprised to know that some foods that seem healthy actually have preservatives. Before purchasing any canned food, you must check its ingredients. You should buy organic foods, which are free from artificial additives. Try to eat the freshly prepared foods as much as possible rather than processed or canned foods.
A compound that conditions flour and helps bread puff up during baking scares me. It’s scary because Potassium bromate causes thyroid and kidney tumors in rats, and it’s banned from food use in many countries. In California, products containing potassium bromate are required to carry a cancer warning. Fortunately, negative publicity has made the additive relatively rare, but until the FDA banishes it, you should remain on the lookout. You’ll find it in Johnny Rockets Hoagie Rolls.
Another dangerous ingredient you should keep an eye out for is Olestra, which is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips, olestra is marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body and can contribute to abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Furthermore, olestra may inhibit the body’s ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene.
After reading some of these comments about other harmful additives, I am becoming more alarmed by the state of modern day society. If food companies are allowed to use such dangerous ingredients, then we as consumers have to fight back by not buying such products. Otherwise, we are shortening our own life spans and reducing the quality of our lives.
Right on, Elizabeth. Our food supply has way too many food-like (i.e., non-food) items masquerading as real foods.
All the best,
Dennis