The Natural Sweetener That Makes People Fat

There is a sweetener found in most packaged, prepared, and processed food that is touted as “natural” and “healthy” but is actually contributing to obesity, high blood pressure and other health issues. Its names are harmless-sounding but don’t be fooled. This sweetener goes by the names: high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, corn sweetener, or fructose.

Corn syrup is the sugar extracted from corn. When isolated it is not and never has been healthy, but as corn is now almost entirely genetically modified, it is even worse for us. The fructose in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) converts to fat stores quickly in your body, which is why it is frequently used in animal experiments to make animals obese. This food additive is found in most packaged, prepared, and fast foods and interferes with your body’s appetite and metabolism hormones, causing your body to store fat. It can be found just about anywhere; food manufacturers have been profiting by sneaking this cheap food additive into our food supply in greater quantities over the last few decades, and it shows in our bottom lines.

But there’s good news. By eliminating the so-called “natural” sweetener for good, you can drop the weight and reduce high blood pressure linked to HFCS.

A University of Colorado study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that even people who eat a healthy, low-sodium diet may be at risk of high blood pressure due to this common food additive, as it was shown to increase blood pressure by up to 32 percent.

According to the study, HFCS leads to inflammation in the bloodstream, which causes the blood vessel walls to tighten, resulting in blood pressure increases. Even people who ate a healthy diet with periodic ingestion of HFCS experienced the blood pressure increase.

Another problem with HFCS being so commonplace in processed and prepared foods is that corn sensitivities are on the rise, affecting more people than ever. If you have developed a food sensitivity to corn, then continued exposure to it can cause bloating and weight gain—another great reason to give it up and slim your waistline.

HFCS can be listed on food labels as corn syrup, fructose, high fructose sweetener, natural sweetener, or even other types of sweetener, but it is still the same health-damaging ingredient. Even foods that claim to be “natural” can include HFCS. Only fresh whole foods are certain to be devoid of HFCS.

HFCS can be found in almost any foods but is common in most sodas and processed foods labeled “low fat” or “nonfat.” (Most food manufacturers add high fructose corn syrup to add flavor when they make fat-reduced foods because it happens to be extremely cheap.)

Keep reading to discover some shocking sources of HFCS…

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ana Carolina d.

10:30PM PST on Nov 21, 2012

Does anyone know Natvia? It's 100% Natural Sweetener made from Stevia plant. It's low calories and diabetic friendly! I use it. It's very good. healthy and no after taste! check out www.natvia.com

November 21
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Elsie H.

4:19AM PDT on Oct 10, 2012

Thank you most informative

October 10
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Jacqueline F.

2:41PM PDT on Oct 5, 2012

I've been avoiding HFCS for years! So much, that I read the label on EVERYTHING and have stopped buying packaged foods.....

October 5
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Ann F.

5:37PM PDT on Sep 28, 2012

Thank you

September 28
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Lisa D.

4:28AM PDT on Sep 28, 2012

Thank you for this... HFCS is definitely a problem... hiding out in a lot of common American diet staples!

Karen M.

7:44PM PDT on Sep 23, 2012

You forgot to mention that corn syrup and HFCS are made from genetically modifed corn!!! We've been eating corn syrup for a looong time but the obesity issue has shown up more recently. Of course it's in almost every product on the market that it didn't exist in within the last 20 or so years as well. When I learned about GMO foods and that corn is the number one GM product I stopped eating any kind of corn product that was not organic.