Princeton study says high fructose corn syrup may make you fatter than table sugar

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup the same as sugar "fine in moderation" as the Corn Refiner's Association  is portraying in their commercials or is it a leading factor in America's obesity epidemic?

Princeton University released the results of two studies yesterday that seem to indicate High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) actually does cause more weight gain than sugar. Specifically, HFCS leads to an increase of abdominal body fat which leads to an increase of triglycerides. It is still unclear why HFCS caused more weight gain that plain ol' sugar.

More studies will follow and the debate is likely to continue for many more years. The corn refiners and our FDA believe HFCS is a natural product and technically it is; it is simply corn syrup treated with enzymes, and then carbon absorption, and filtration. This process converts the glucose naturally found in corn into fructose.  

Fructose is naturally occurring in fruits and combined with the fiber, and other nutrients in fruit, it is fine in moderation. Fructose converted from glucose was not a normal part of the human diet until the 1970's when HFCS became the preferred sweetener after sugar prices soared.

The recent information regarding several other major food or lifestyle changes that Americans made 30-50 years ago is also alarming.

• We had the trans-fat debacle where Americans learned that margarine and other fake fats are healthier than butter, but now states such as California and New York are banning trans-fat in Restaurants because it is so detrimental to our health.  
• A 2007 study based in England showed that artificial dyes and other preservatives found in foods caused hyperactivity in children. England responded by banning these ingredients.
• Some researchers actually believe now that our long term habit of slathering up with sunscreen prior to going in the sun actually contributes to far more cancer deaths than it prevents because we now have epidemic vitamin D deficiency.

Some questions are begging for answers. Why are we waiting to study the effects of these changes until a half century after we implement them? Can we trust that the FDA is doing their job protecting the American people from harm?

The Princeton study seems to confirm the belief of many health conscious citizens; HFCS is a bad choice.  At this point in the debate, the two most notable sources of information are the Corn Refiner's Association, who said the Princeton study contains gross errors in a press release, and the Princeton University researchers who stand behind their study. Who will you believe? The 91,506 members of The Ban of High Fructose Corn Syrup in the U.S. blog have made their decision.

For better access to HFCS free food in San Diego, visit Whole Foods, Henry's Farmer's Market, OB People's, or your local Farmer's Market, but you will still need to read the label to be sure.