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. 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.]

Kelley Herring

Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet – a multimedia company that educates on how foods promote health and protect against disease. As a young adult, Kelley battled a debilitating health condition that went misdiagnosed by multiple doctors for more than a year. Finding no help from “modern medicine”, she turned to her own knowledge of biochemistry and her passion for health research. She soon learned that her symptoms were related to nutrition and within weeks, she charted a course back to health with nothing more than simple lifestyle changes and the power of the plate. The lessons she learned spawned the creation of Healing Gourmet. Kelley is a firm believer in vigorous exercise, moderate sun exposure and delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet’s Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility.