Feb 6
High fructose corn syrup – mercury dangers & links to obesity
We’ve all heard the warning that soda is bad for you, but most people don’t know what exactly is bad about it. For starters, sodas contain a very high level of sugar. Drinking one can of soda is like eating 13 tablespoons of sugar – and not just regular sugarcane sugar, but high fructose corn syrup (a common sweetener made from corn used in many processed foods). Just because its made from corn, doesn’t mean its healthy as you will find in most studies.
The association between high-fructose corn syrup and obesity may reflect that we consume so much of it. Nearly all sugars add empty calories to our diets. And because high fructose corn syrup is the main sweetener in most soft drinks and a common one in other foods (including breakfast cereals, salad dressings, cheese spreads, yogurts, jams, and peanut butter, among others), many people may just consume more of it then other sugars.
A new study of rats by researchers from the University of Florida suggests that a diet high in fructose may lead the body to develop a resistance to a protein called leptin, which helps control appetite. According to the Washington Post’s recent article, studies have also found mercury in a third of the samples tested. “Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply,” the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies, said in a prepared statement.
We do know that Americans can stand to cut back on sugar. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American should consume no more than about 40 grams of added sugars a day–added sugars don’t include those that occur naturally in fruit and other foods. Just one can of soda is close to this amount. The average American consumed more than three times that in 2000. People who want to limit their overall sugar intake would be wise to cut down on products that have added sugars, including high-fructose corn syrup, listed among the first several ingredients.
There is a ton of information out there about this and the dangers of HFCS. Start checking your labels and see what you are putting in your body!
Consumer Report Article
Washington Post Article
Empowered Doctor
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