What is High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFSC)?
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener made by changing the sugar in cornstarch to fructose. High fructose corn syrup has a preservative quality to it, extending the shelf life of proceeded foods. As a sweeter it is much cheaper than sugar. For these reasons, it has become a popular ingredient in many sodas, flavored drinks and other processed foods. Check your food labels; you may be surprised by how many foods contain high fructose corn syrup. Some nutrition experts blame the growing obesity problem on the increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup especially in beverages. The controversy largely comes down to whether this is coincidence or a contributory relationship. The scientific theory is that fructose is more readily converted to fat by your liver than sucrose is, thus increasing the levels of fat in your bloodstream. Additionally, some animal studies have shown a link between increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup and adverse health effects, such as diabetes
