Case Study: High Fructose Corn Syrup Vs. Sugar
High Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Sugar: Which is Better?
High Fructose Corn Syrup is commonly known as the cost-effective sweetener used in most processed foods and drink beverages, making it popular for production and caused it to sweep over the sweets industry. In 1970, High Fructose Corn Syrup only represented less than 1% of the caloric sweeteners added to food and beverages. However, in 1980 the sweetener market steadily increased and high fructose corn syrup quickly became the replacement for sucrose, more commonly known as table sugar. Today, HFCS represents over 40% of the caloric sweeteners added to processed foods and beverages. It is cheaper, half the price of sucrose, and prolongs the shelf life of any item.
What exactly makes …show more content…
up High Fructose Corn Syrup? Well, it is very similar to the structure of sucrose. Sucrose is composed of half fructose and half glucose. Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar in foods. Fructose, in any kind of sugar, deposits specifically into the liver as a form of fat. Glucose is a form of carbohydrate that provides energy for the body. While the structure of High Fructose Corn Syrup is similar to that of sucrose, it differs in the amount of ratios involved. HCFS is made up of 55% fructose, 42% Glucose, and 3% larger sugar molecules. HCFS originally comes from a corn syrup composed of glucose and then processes it into fructose. The manufacturing of HFCS causes the fructose molecules to be free and unbound, contrasting to that of sucrose. The fructose can cause a difference in appetite and metabolism due to a decrease in leptin concentration. Leptin and inulin secretion are vital because it allows your body to administer signals for regulation of food intake as well as monitoring weight gain. Studies have demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between HCFS and decreased amounts of insulin secretion and leptin concentrations. (Beil , 2013)
The graph provided does not mean that the two variables (obesity and HFCS intake) are directly related. It also does not prove that HFCS is the cause for the increased rates of obesity in the past years. The positive correlation between the two variables does not mean that one directly caused the other. It does not demonstrate a cause and effect relationship, the results may just be a coincidence. Therefore, there can be no conclusion drawn from this graph because obesity and the increased intake of HFCS are not directly correlated. This graph does not provide any evidence to support that HFCS causes obesity. The relationship occurring between obesity rates and the intake of HFCS is ambiguous.
Scientists have speculated that HFCS is less healthy than table sugar.
While there have been studies on this matter, none have offered scientific proof to back up this hypothesis. A study completed in 2004 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated to reveal the correlation between HCFS and obesity levels. The results from the study determined that there is a likelihood that increased consumption of HFCS is potentially linked to the increased levels of obesity. However, the article also included that there are different factors that may contribute to the increased rate in obesity. These factors may include genetics, decreased amounts of physical activities, an increase in portion sizes, an increase of dining at fast food restaurants, decreased levels of smoking, and different environmental agents. This study may provide insightful information on the issue. However, it fails to prove that there is a direct correlation between HCFS and the rise of obesity. (Bray, Nielson & Popkin , …show more content…
2004)
Another study conducted by a research team at Princeton University explored the response in animals to different amounts of HFCS. The experiment was conducted with rats demonstrating higher levels of obesity after drinking increased levels of HFCS. However, once exposed to increased levels of sucrose consumption, the rats did not demonstrate a positive correlation with obesity. The study concluded that their findings supported the hypothesis that increased consumption of HFCS is a very important factor in regards to the current obesity epidemic. (Parker, 2010) While this study offers some merit, it was immediately refuted by an article featured in the LA Times. This article suggested that people love to blame HFCS for the current obesity epidemic. This article counter-acted the Princeton study by suggesting that the results failed to provide an answer as to whether HFCS is any less healthy than sucrose. (Kaplan, 2010)
While there have been many speculations, there still has yet to be any proof as to whether or not HFCS is any more dangerous than sugar. In the scientific community, many of the controversies started over this matter have been regarded to as just hype and a myth. None of the studies conducted about HFCS have provided any clear evidence to fully support any of their theories or hypotheses that HFCS is any worse than sugar. The scientific community currently has deemed that both HFCS and sugar pose as an equally unhealthy choice. Another question that has been raised is whether or not the two metabolize differently in the body. A long-term study is currently being conducted at UC Davis and results will be released during the summer.
In my personal opinion, I think my Aunt should avoid purchasing products made with HFCS and/or sugar all together. Although there has not been any tangible proof supporting that HFCS is worse for an individual over table sugar. I still have come to believe that Americans have developed too much of a sweet tooth. The fact that excess amounts of fructose stores in the body as fat is not very settling seeing as fructose is a common ingredient in most processed foods and beverages. While I don’t think HFCS poses as a particular harm, it is still important for my Aunt to monitor the intake of sugar as it does have effects on the body. These effects include decreased insulin secretion, leptin production, as well as weight monitoring. A large amount of such topic could potentially put my Aunt at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and more. All in all, it is important for Aunt to be wary of what she purchases as food for herself as well as her family. I would like it if she did not eat out often, limited the amount of processed food purchased, bought fresh-produce, and examined her current health and family medical history in order to take the best step forward in deciding which foods she needs to purchase for her family, as every individual’s dietary needs differ from one another.
References
Beil , L.
(2013, May 16). Sweet confusion: Does high fructose corn syrup deserve such a bad rap?. Science News. Retrieved from http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/350460/description/Sweet_Confusion
Bray, G. A., Nielson, S. J., & Popkin , B. M. (2004). Consumption of high fructose corn syrup may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. The American Journal of Critical Nutrition, 79(4), 537-543. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/537.full
Kaplan, K. (2010, March 24). A not-so-convincing case that high fructose corn syrup is worse for you than sugar. LA Times. Retrieved from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/high-fructose-corn-syrup-hfcs-sugar-princeton-study.html
Miller, M. (2010, March 10). Is high-fructose corn syrup really so bad?. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-6286934.html
Parker, H. (2010). A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/
Swaby, R. (2008, March 12). Is high fructose corn syrup really bad for you?. Retrieved from
http://gizmodo.com/5891353/is-high-fructose-corn-syrup-really-bad-for-you
High Fructose Corn Syrup is commonly known as the cost-effective sweetener used in most processed foods and drink beverages, making it popular for production and caused it to sweep over the sweets industry. In 1970, High Fructose Corn Syrup only represented less than 1% of the caloric sweeteners added to food and beverages. However, in 1980 the sweetener market steadily increased and high fructose corn syrup quickly became the replacement for sucrose, more commonly known as table sugar. Today, HFCS represents over 40% of the caloric sweeteners added to processed foods and beverages. It is cheaper, half the price of sucrose, and prolongs the shelf life of any item.
What exactly makes …show more content…
up High Fructose Corn Syrup? Well, it is very similar to the structure of sucrose. Sucrose is composed of half fructose and half glucose. Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar in foods. Fructose, in any kind of sugar, deposits specifically into the liver as a form of fat. Glucose is a form of carbohydrate that provides energy for the body. While the structure of High Fructose Corn Syrup is similar to that of sucrose, it differs in the amount of ratios involved. HCFS is made up of 55% fructose, 42% Glucose, and 3% larger sugar molecules. HCFS originally comes from a corn syrup composed of glucose and then processes it into fructose. The manufacturing of HFCS causes the fructose molecules to be free and unbound, contrasting to that of sucrose. The fructose can cause a difference in appetite and metabolism due to a decrease in leptin concentration. Leptin and inulin secretion are vital because it allows your body to administer signals for regulation of food intake as well as monitoring weight gain. Studies have demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between HCFS and decreased amounts of insulin secretion and leptin concentrations. (Beil , 2013)
The graph provided does not mean that the two variables (obesity and HFCS intake) are directly related. It also does not prove that HFCS is the cause for the increased rates of obesity in the past years. The positive correlation between the two variables does not mean that one directly caused the other. It does not demonstrate a cause and effect relationship, the results may just be a coincidence. Therefore, there can be no conclusion drawn from this graph because obesity and the increased intake of HFCS are not directly correlated. This graph does not provide any evidence to support that HFCS causes obesity. The relationship occurring between obesity rates and the intake of HFCS is ambiguous.
Scientists have speculated that HFCS is less healthy than table sugar.
While there have been studies on this matter, none have offered scientific proof to back up this hypothesis. A study completed in 2004 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated to reveal the correlation between HCFS and obesity levels. The results from the study determined that there is a likelihood that increased consumption of HFCS is potentially linked to the increased levels of obesity. However, the article also included that there are different factors that may contribute to the increased rate in obesity. These factors may include genetics, decreased amounts of physical activities, an increase in portion sizes, an increase of dining at fast food restaurants, decreased levels of smoking, and different environmental agents. This study may provide insightful information on the issue. However, it fails to prove that there is a direct correlation between HCFS and the rise of obesity. (Bray, Nielson & Popkin , …show more content…
2004)
Another study conducted by a research team at Princeton University explored the response in animals to different amounts of HFCS. The experiment was conducted with rats demonstrating higher levels of obesity after drinking increased levels of HFCS. However, once exposed to increased levels of sucrose consumption, the rats did not demonstrate a positive correlation with obesity. The study concluded that their findings supported the hypothesis that increased consumption of HFCS is a very important factor in regards to the current obesity epidemic. (Parker, 2010) While this study offers some merit, it was immediately refuted by an article featured in the LA Times. This article suggested that people love to blame HFCS for the current obesity epidemic. This article counter-acted the Princeton study by suggesting that the results failed to provide an answer as to whether HFCS is any less healthy than sucrose. (Kaplan, 2010)
While there have been many speculations, there still has yet to be any proof as to whether or not HFCS is any more dangerous than sugar. In the scientific community, many of the controversies started over this matter have been regarded to as just hype and a myth. None of the studies conducted about HFCS have provided any clear evidence to fully support any of their theories or hypotheses that HFCS is any worse than sugar. The scientific community currently has deemed that both HFCS and sugar pose as an equally unhealthy choice. Another question that has been raised is whether or not the two metabolize differently in the body. A long-term study is currently being conducted at UC Davis and results will be released during the summer.
In my personal opinion, I think my Aunt should avoid purchasing products made with HFCS and/or sugar all together. Although there has not been any tangible proof supporting that HFCS is worse for an individual over table sugar. I still have come to believe that Americans have developed too much of a sweet tooth. The fact that excess amounts of fructose stores in the body as fat is not very settling seeing as fructose is a common ingredient in most processed foods and beverages. While I don’t think HFCS poses as a particular harm, it is still important for my Aunt to monitor the intake of sugar as it does have effects on the body. These effects include decreased insulin secretion, leptin production, as well as weight monitoring. A large amount of such topic could potentially put my Aunt at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and more. All in all, it is important for Aunt to be wary of what she purchases as food for herself as well as her family. I would like it if she did not eat out often, limited the amount of processed food purchased, bought fresh-produce, and examined her current health and family medical history in order to take the best step forward in deciding which foods she needs to purchase for her family, as every individual’s dietary needs differ from one another.
References
Beil , L.
(2013, May 16). Sweet confusion: Does high fructose corn syrup deserve such a bad rap?. Science News. Retrieved from http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/350460/description/Sweet_Confusion
Bray, G. A., Nielson, S. J., & Popkin , B. M. (2004). Consumption of high fructose corn syrup may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. The American Journal of Critical Nutrition, 79(4), 537-543. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/537.full
Kaplan, K. (2010, March 24). A not-so-convincing case that high fructose corn syrup is worse for you than sugar. LA Times. Retrieved from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/high-fructose-corn-syrup-hfcs-sugar-princeton-study.html
Miller, M. (2010, March 10). Is high-fructose corn syrup really so bad?. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-6286934.html
Parker, H. (2010). A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/
Swaby, R. (2008, March 12). Is high fructose corn syrup really bad for you?. Retrieved from
http://gizmodo.com/5891353/is-high-fructose-corn-syrup-really-bad-for-you