Posted on 05/24/2011 11:11:30 AM PDT by decimon
Obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise despite decline in consumption of sweeteners
WASHINGTON A comprehensive review of research focusing on the debate between High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and other sweeteners presented today finds there is no evidence of any significant variation in the way the human body metabolizes HFCS as opposed to standard table sugar, or any difference in impact on risk factors for chronic disease.
James M. Rippe, MD, founder and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute and professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida, presented a summary of recent research entitled -- "High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sucrose and Fructose: What Do We Really Know?" at the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) Annual Meeting in New York City. Dr. Rippe was invited to present his findings on a panel focusing on nutrition and cardiovascular prevention, an issue that ASH recognizes as important on the subject of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Based on Dr. Rippe's review of a series of randomized, prospective studies, there is no evidence of adverse impacts from consumption of normal levels of either sucrose or HFCS on weight, ability to lose weight, or increased risk factors for chronic disease, nor were other differences found between the two sugars. Furthermore, a review of current research in this area shows that an individual is no more likely to experience obesity or chronic diseases by consuming HFCS as opposed to other sweeteners such as table sugar.
"While there has been a lot of media attention lately focused on the claims that HFCS is somehow more likely to cause obesity and chronic disease than other sweeteners, the evidence simply does not support those claims," said Dr. Rippe. "Recent research shows that individuals who consumed normal levels fructose have seen no adverse effects on their weight or triglycerides."
Also somewhat surprising, the United States Department of Agriculture has reported that while average daily caloric consumption has risen steadily over the last several decades, along with the rates of obesity and diabetes according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average daily caloric consumption of sweeteners, including HFCS, has actually decreased over the last decade.
In the mid-1970s, the average American diet contained less than 2,200 calories per day. By 2008, that average increased by approximately 500 calories to nearly 2,700 calories per day a 22 percent jump. By contrast, since 1999 the average of total sugar-added calories consumed per capita per day actually decreased from over 500 calories per day down to just over 450 a 10 percent decrease. During that same period, there was a dramatic spike in the calories from added fats and a consistently high calorie intake from flour and cereal products.
"In the case of HFCS, while consumption increased steadily over two decades in the United States beginning in the 1970s, it peaked around 1999 and has been declining ever since. Yet, we see the incidence of obesity and diabetes in the U.S. continues to rise or remain steady during that time" said Dr. Rippe. "Meanwhile, we have seen obesity and diabetes epidemics in regions of the world where little or no HFCS is available."
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For more information on added sugars, please visit www.SweetSurprise.com.
CRA is the national trade association representing the corn refining (wet milling) industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, ethanol, starch, bioproducts, corn oil, and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein, and fiber.
Visit us on the Web at www.Corn.org
Ping
But...but...how can this beee!!?? High fructose corn syrup is eeevil. The TeeVee tells me so.
High fructose corn syrup isn’t metabolized by the body in the way that sucrose is; hfcs goes immediately to fat.
I wouldn’t trust anything from the Corn Refiner’s Association. This is a propaganda piece that reminds me of the tobacco companies’ ads in the 60’s claiming that smoking wasn’t harmful.
The problem is simply that people are eating too much of everything and exercising too little.
As if sucrose was a health food.
What they’re really saying is that sucrose and fructose are equally bad for you.
A slightly more intelligent presentation by Gary Taubes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine
Seems obvious, no? But then, we are stupid species, and usually just believe what we want to.
It never gets used for the body's immediate energy requirements? Does it ever get converted into glycogen? Does it really just go "immediately to fat?"
Does it ever get to pass "Go" and collect $200?
I don’t know, but when the corn growers association (not sure if that’s the real name) is to the point of advertising in commercials on TV about how HFCS is no different than sugar, using a “dad” walking his little girl through a cornfield, it pretty much tells me that it’s worse than sugar.
I think it’s true.
They’re both equally bad for you in excess, and a lot of people take them in excess
There is no difference between refined sugar and HFCS. They’re both crap. And they’re both consumed in unbelievable amounts in this country. It’s no surprise that there is an epidemic of diabetes and obesity in this country?
Just go to any Walmart or any mall on any give day, and look at the evidence.
Amen! I avoid it whenever possible and gravitate towards no calorie (natural) sweeteners such as stevia or lo han
First they came for alcohol. I quit drinking beer.
Then they came for tobacco. I quit smoking cigarettes.
Next was 100% milk. I switched to 2% milk.
Then it was red meat. I cut way back on cholesterol.
Now they want sucrose. Does that mean no more Snickers?
I’m so damn healthy I’ll never die. My life is so miserable.
Sucrose is 50% glucose and 50% fructose.
HFCS is 45% glucose and 55% fructose.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup Can Fuel Tumor Growth
Along with Obesity and Diabetes, it's also linked to Liver Scarring.
ENJOY!
“As if sucrose was a health food.”
I know, it’s funny, people are drinking Mexi-Cokes and retro 7Up and acting all virtuous about it.
If they taste better, great, but it is just funny. In the 80s particularly sugar was EVIL.
Same thing with butter, you’d get the eye roll if you used butter. The holy used margarine. Now it’s reversed.
I think it’s all pretty much irrelevant. Eat/drink what you like.
What a thoughtful post.
Way we presume that this study was subsidized by the Corn Refiners Association and its many friends among the political classes?
Certainly the National Science Foundation would be more than happy to fund such a study. Or the NIH. Or even NASA, good friend of Global Warming.
Make food from scratch... like the best chef-owned restaurants do.
High fructose corn syrup is bad for you. You won’t die immediately, but if you’d like health problems when you get older, it’s a great way to get started.
Eat meat, animal fats, butter, fresh fruits, vegetables, etc., as much organic as possible. Tastes best and is the best for you. If good ingredients are chosen and properly prepared, flavors (and nutrients) are left intact and often concentrated by the chef. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables provides tremendous health benefits. And with the preservation and concentration of flavors (instead of cooking them out), you’ll feel wonderfully satisfied with reasonable portions. Overeating happens when one eats large amounts of carbs with simple and not-to-concentrated flavors, i.e., a big plate of pasta, a box of cookies.
If you work with great chefs in their kitchens you’ll learn what’s up with food.
Junk made in factories that comes in boxes, crackers, cakes, cookies, etc. is a slow-acting poison.
There’s a reason why diabetes and heart disease are rampant - they’re very much helped along by the processed food industry.
Most people have higher than healthy levels of heavy metals in their system. For example, tinnitus. It’s common and heavy metals can be the culprit.
The liver and kidneys can’t process processed foods as chemicals are in unnatural ratios; the organs are also unable to expel many of the poisons we’re being fed.
And, cooking from scratch can be accomplished very cheaply. All it takes is effort and some self-education. And if you get started eating well, you’ll realize the taste difference and how junky processed foods are.
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