The Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup

High-fructose corn syrup is used in many different foods and drinks that you can find at your local grocery store. According to the Mayo Clinic, high-fructose corn syrup is made by changing the sugar or glucose in sugar to fructose. This change causes the high-fructose corn syrup to have a longer shelf life, but it can have some serious side effects on our health.

Weight Gain and Obesity
In the past, weight gain and obesity was thought to be linked with high-fructose corn syrup. It is believed that high-fructose corn syrup is harder for the body to break down and causes weight to gradually be packed on. More and more food and beverage manufacturers are using high-fructose corn syrup in their products. This rise is thought to be related to the adult and child obesity problem in the United States. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, there needs to be more research done on this subject before making a final determination because recent research has yielded conflicting reports.

Diabetes
According to the Diabetes Health website, fructose consumption is tied to insulin resistance in rodents that have been studied. This research suggests that consuming too much fructose can lead to an exacerbation of their diabetes, and this can lead to other serious complications related to diabetes. For example, it is well known that complications of diabetes can cause heart problems, circulation problems, loss of limbs, blindness, and even death. Juvenile diabetes may also be at a higher rate because of the number of children in today's society that are obese, and eating and drinking too many products with high-fructose corn syrup.

Effects on Heart and Liver
Although it may be a secondary effect, high-fructose corn syrup can have a detrimental effect on a person's heart and liver. More and more cases of heart disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure are present today than any of the years passed. In a recent study reported by The American Heart Association, a high-fructose diet raises blood pressure in men. This can essentially lead to cases of heart failure and heart disease. In addition, a diet high in fat and high-fructose corn syrup can lead to a fatty liver and liver disease.

www.livestrong.com