Can high fructose corn syrup contribute to belly fat?
On average, Americans consume about 136 lbs of sugar every year and about 57 lbs of that sugar is in the form of high fructose corn syrup, or HFCS.
Fructose occurs naturally in many fruits, but it is also a key player in high fructose corn syrup. Many commercially processed foods contain HFCS because it is much cheaper to use than sugar. However, high fructose corn syrup has many critics who claim it also carries many health risks.
While high fructose corn syrup contains no fat or cholesterol, it has been linked with the accumulation and increase in belly fat. There is evidence to suggest that if you want to lose weight, eliminating HFCS may help.
Research has established that consuming high amounts of fructose can contribute to problems with cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Studies have also concluded that people who drink fructose sweetened beverages have a much higher incidence of belly fat accumulation. This extra belly fat has been linked to many health problems from heart disease to insulin resistant diabetes. If you want to know how to lose belly fat, eliminating HFCS is a first step.
High fructose corn syrup includes any corn syrup that has been put through an enzymatic process in which the glucose is converted into fructose, then mixed with pure corn syrup (100% glucose) to reach the desired level of sweetness. The HFCS is then used extensively in processed and commercially prepared foods. But, the question remains, how does HFCS affect our bodies and our health?
The process for producing high fructose corn syrup was first developed in 1957, but it wasn’t until the late 1960’s that the process was refined for industrial production. By 1975 high fructose corn syrup was rapidly becoming a standard ingredient in many commercially prepared foods and beverages.
According The Center for Disease Control, CDC, in 1966 the average American woman, under the age of 50, weighed approximately 27.5 lbs less than today; similarly, men under 50 weighted an average of 23.5 pounds less. Interestingly, this pattern continues in older adults as well. Men between 50 and 59 were nearly 28 pounds lighter in 1966, while men 60 to 74 were an incredible 33 pounds less than today. Why such a huge increase in the average weight of Americans? Does HFCS play a role in this weight gain and subsequent increase in belly fat?
We all know that consuming large amounts of sugar isn’t good for us, but it seems that some sugar might be worse for us than others. For example, consuming high amounts of fructose have been shown to lower the body’s response to leptin which is a protein hormone that regulates metabolism and appetite. Fructose also encourages the body to store fat. So, when we eat foods containing HFCS, we are consuming a product that lowers our metabolism, interferes with our body’s ability to regulate appetite and promotes the storage of fat. Is it any wonder why Americans continue to get fatter and fatter?
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