HFCS is linked to diabetes
HFCS stands for high fructose corn syrup as many of you know – we all are becoming more aware of the hazards of sugar and the hazards of fructose – here is one more study linking the sweetener HFCS with diabetes. HFCS is found in most sodas (diet and non-diet), baked goods, and multiple condiments It is used due to its economical benefits and it is easier to handle than traditional table sugar in manufacturing. Researchers tested multiple different carbonated soda drinks and found that all had extremely high levels of reactive carbonyls. Reactive carbonyls are associated with fructose and glucose and believed to cause tissue damage in the human body. These same reactive carbonyls are not found in table sugar. Soda was found to contain 5 times the reactive carbonyls than the blood of a diabetic (diabetics have been found to have elevated reactive carbonyls in their blood). Researchers also found that adding tea components (ECGC) to the HFCS drinks led to lower levels of reactive carbonyls, which is a promising method of lowering reactive carbonyls in these drinks, but the best method of reducing them in your body is to not drink them at all.
Researchers found that food and drink manufacturers could reduce he potential hazardous effects of HFCS by adding more EGCG, using less HFCS, or replacing HFCS with traditional table sugar. Even though that may all be true your best defence and best step forward is to reduce your intake (reduce meaning stop all together) of carbonated beverages and all products containing HFCS.
American Chemical Society (2007, August 23). Soda Warning? High-fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Diabetes, New Study Suggests.
A HFCS commercial floating around the web.
A HFCS commercial spoof.
