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Try to pay attention to the nutritional content in the nutritional value information table on the packaging of the food you eat, whether it contains corn syrup or corn syrup? Corn syrup is a sweetener made from corn and is commonly used in soft drinks or other packaged drinks. Yes, it is made from corn, but many studies have shown that this sweetener is less healthy. To know more clearly about high fructose corn syrup, you should consider the following reviews.
What is high fructose corn syrup?
High-fructose corn syrup or what we are familiar with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in English is an artificial sweetener made from processed corn. This high-fructose corn syrup is widely used as an artificial sweetener in processed foods or packaged drinks. However, nowadays its use may be slightly reduced considering that many other artificial sweeteners have appeared.
This corn syrup contains a lot of glucose, some of the glucose may be converted with the help of enzymes to form fructose. It is intended that the taste produced from corn syrup is not much different from ordinary sugar (sucrose) which contains glucose and fructose. In addition, it also aims to make the corn syrup taste sweeter.
Because corn syrup is made through many processes, there are variations of corn syrup with different fructose versus glucose content. The type of corn syrup most commonly used is the HFCS 55 type, which has a fructose ratio of 55% and 42% glucose. This type of corn syrup is most similar in content to regular sugar.
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Is high fructose corn syrup healthier?
High-fructose corn syrup is so well processed that it produces a content similar to regular sugar. However, man-made cannot match what already exists (naturally). Even though it is similar to regular sugar, many experts have questioned whether the body can process high fructose corn syrup the same as the body processes regular sugar.
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that high fructose corn syrup is less healthy than other types of sweeteners. In fact, research has also shown that high intake of high fructose corn syrup is associated with obesity and other health problems.
Foods or drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup can contribute additional calories to your body, so this can cause you to gain weight. Furthermore, you may suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, or heart disease.
You may not realize it when you eat packaged foods or drinks, but the many calories you can get are only from a biscuit or a glass of soft drink. What's more, if you often consume soft drinks or sugary drinks in packaging, of course you don't realize how many calories enter your body through the liquid sugar contained in them. It's refreshing, but not necessarily healthy.
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Based on research conducted by Barry Popkin, PhD from the University of North Carolina, it turns out that drinks contribute a lot to your daily calorie additions. Popkin says that more than 450 of a person's daily calories come from drinks, 40% from soft drinks or fruit juice.
Research published by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition it also shows that your body is not aware that a number of calories in the form of fluids enter your body through the soft drinks you consume. It's different when you eat solid food. This makes your body not feel full after the many calories that enter the body from drinking, as a result you will eat or drink again. If done continuously, of course this will cause weight gain.
So, not only is the high-fructose corn syrup in soda that can make you gain weight, but the content of other artificial sweeteners can also cause you to gain weight.
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Suggestion
The American Heart Association recommend:
- For women, do not add sugar consumption as much as 100 calories per day (equivalent to 6 teaspoons of sugar) obtained from any source
- For men, avoid consuming 150 calories of added sugar per day (equivalent to 9 teaspoons of sugar) from any source
Also, you should limit your consumption of added sugars of any kind, be it high fructose corn syrup or other types. Limit consumption of sodas, packaged sugary drinks, and snacks.
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