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Can
high fructose corn syrup make you fat?
High
fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one kind of a sweetener which is
sweeter than normal sugar. Because of its low price, it is being
used widely in the manufacture of carbonated drinks and in products
which are baked. However, in the recent years, various experiments
have been carried out which infer that HFCS causes people to gain
weight.
Composition
HFCS is made up of fructose and glucose. In sucrose, which is
the normal sugar which we use in our daily consumption, these
two are equal in proportion. However, HFCS consists of 55% fructose
and 45% glucose.
What is lipogenesis?
It is a method in which sugar is changed to body fat in our body.
It has been observed in a study that this process is carried out
at an increased rate when fructose is consumed. Glucose was replaced
with 50% less amount of fructose and the results were astounding.
Experiments were conducted on rats and healthy human beings. It
was also revealed that if fructose was had at the beginning of
the day, it had an effect on the food which was taken in the later
part i.e., at lunch. The fats included in lunch were stored in
an increased quantity than usual.
There are a lot of other food types like fruits which contain
some fructose in them. However, they also comprise other nutrients,
fiber, etc. in useful quantities which overlap the former. With
more and more number of people becoming conscious of their health,
it is advisable to avoid using high fructose corn syrup in their
diets. When this substance is used in various food products, it
is highly processed using many unhealthy elements. Therefore,
it contributes even more in storing fat in our bodies.
Though it is not right to deduce that this is the only substance
that leads to obesity in human beings, it contributes to the same
in a considerable amount.
Healthy alternatives of HFCS
There are many healthy alternatives to HFCS which can be used
such as honey or maple syrup. These can even replace the common
table sugar. Including raw fruits in your diet can also be helpful
as they contain sugar content which is very less and will also
reduce the craving of having something sweet.
To sum it up, it is unhealthy to have high content corn syrup
as it can increase your body fat.
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