HFCS

Question
Hi, I know that high fructose corn syrup is terrible for one's health, but I don't have all the facts on it.  I was wondering if you could explain to me why it is such a harmful ingredient.

Answer
Hello Nathan!

 Thank you for your nutrition question.

Problems Caused by Too Much HFCS

-It can lead to higher caloric intake
-It can lead to an increase in bodyweight
-It fools your body into thinking it抯 hungry
-It increases the amount of processed foods you eat, thereby decreasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods
-It may increase insulin resistance and triglycerides

Common Foods High in HFCS

Regular soft drinks
Fruit juice and fruit drinks that are not 100 percent juice
Pancake syrups
Popsicles
Fruit-flavored yogurts
Frozen yogurts
Ketchup and BBQ sauces
Jarred and canned pasta sauces
Canned soups
Canned fruits (if not in its own juice)
Breakfast cereals
Highly sweetened breakfast cereals

While there is no way of knowing exactly how much HFCS is in a given product, you can read the food labels to gauge sugar levels. So, for example, if HFCS is one of the first ingredients listed (in soft drinks or syrup, for example), it is safe to assume there抯 a lot in the product. If HFCS is in the products you buy, make sure it is either low on the ingredient list or that the products list very few total grams of sugar (which is how HFCS is shown on ingredient labels).

For more answers to your nutrition questions check out www.planetyorgos.com

-George Rapitis, MS
www.juicblend.com

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