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High-Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Sugar: This Week on AOL Health

Posted on Apr 29th 2010 11:00AM by Mallory Creveling

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Princeton University researchers argue that high-fructose corn syrup is worse for you than regular sugar. But the American Medical Association, and some dietitians, disagree.

While both substances share similar chemical makeup -- with different concentrations of glucose and fructose -- some believe HFCS leads to obesity because of its direct impact on the body's metabolic functions.

Major food manufacturers, such as Starbucks and PepsiCo, have cut back on their use of HFCS in products, while other industry organizations like the Corn Refiners Association work hard to improve HFCS' image.

Both excess sugar and HFCS can increase risk for diabetes and heart disease. Ultimately, you should try to reduce both the HFCS and other refined sugars in your diet for maximum health benefits.

To hear more from both sides of the HFCS versus table sugar battle, go to AOL Health.

Not only can sugar add inches to your waist, but it can also affect your cholesterol levels.

1 Comment

Tags: cholesterol, debate, diabetes, food manufacturers, heart disease, hfcs, high fructose corn syrup, obesity, sugar

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Audrae Erickson 4-29-2010 @ 9:46PM

We agree, as do many dietitians, that all sugars should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the debate on high fructose corn syrup is peppered with confusing studies. We would like to share what nutrition experts have said about the Princeton study with your readers so they can be fully informed before accepting the results. “This study is poorly designed and poorly controlled and does not prove or even suggest that HFCS is more likely to lead to obesity than sucrose [table sugar].” Karen Teff, Ph.D., Associate Director, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine bit.ly/bkD52b

More comments from nutrition professionals and information on the Princeton study are available at bit.ly/9SjRaS.

Whether from cane, beets, or corn, a sugar is a sugar. We would also encourage readers to consider what nutrition experts have to say about high fructose corn syrup. bit.ly/bkD52b

You can also learn more about high fructose corn syrup at SweetSurprise.com.

Audrae Erickson, Corn Refiners Association