Sweeter Than Sugar, Worse for Your Health?
Table sugar, honey, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Which sweetener is worse for your health? The Corn Refiners Association would like you to believe they’re all the same.
After a recent release by the American Medical Association stating that HFCS is “unlikely to contribute more to obesity than other caloric sweeteners,” the Corn Refiners Association launched a marketing campaign estimated to cost as much as $30 million to “set the record straight.”
So, what is the truth?
While HFCS has the same glycemic index as table sugar (85-92), numerous studies show that it behaves differently in the body – short-wiring our metabolism, encouraging fat storage, and causing lipid dysfunction.
In fact, between 1970 (when HFCS was introduced) and 2000 (when the average annual consumption of HFCS reached 73.5 pounds per person!), the prevalence of obesity more than doubled. The incidence of metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes has also increased.
Your best bet? Choose none of the above. Steer clear of any added sugars in foods and drinks. And satisfy your sweet tooth safely with healthier options like all-natural, calorie-free stevia and erythritol.
[Ed. Note: Despite what you may hear in TV commercials, high fructose corn syrup is NOT good for you. So steer clear. For more on the foods you should be eating to be healthier and live longer, sign up for ETR's natural health e-letter. Get your free subscription here.
And for an all-natural dessert that tastes devilishly delicious, try nutrition expert Kelley Herring's special chocolate cake. Find out how you can get a slice right here.]
I thought the comments on sugar were very helpful. I have tried and do not like the taste of stevia. I have some new sweetners to try. I try very hard to advoide sugar