High fructose corn syrup is added to many packaged foods. It is commonly found in breakfast cereals, breads and soda. It is a cheap sweetener and its consumption is linked to obesity and diabetes. If you are trying healthy eating for weight loss, one of the best things you can do is avoiding corn syrup altogether.
High fructose corn syrup starts its life out as corn. This is then converted into corn starch then high fructose corn syrup by the use of chemical catalysts. Catalysts are not considered to be part of the food ingredients, because their job is simply to create a change in the structure of the food.
However, all catalysts will leave at least a trace behind, so consideration should always be given to the safety of the chosen one. Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be of the highest priority in many foods manufacturers, or those who license them. Some chemical catalysts are more harmful than others, but the common one that is used in the corn industry is glutaraldehyde.
Glutaraldehyde is so dangerous that even in small quantities it can cause burns to the stomach, lung irritability, eyes and throat affections along with headaches and vertigo. Inhaling the fumes is as dangerous as ingesting it.
To add insult to injury, mercury is often used in the catalyst. This has been easily detected in the resulting high fructose corn syrup. The amount could easily tip you many times over the maximum recommended amount that is considered safe.
High fructose corn syrup is supposed to be a natural sweetener, that is healthier than sugar. You be the judge of that.
If you are trying to lose weight by eating healthy foods, then you need to consider all sweeteners, whether natural, ‘natural’ or openly synthetic.
Synthetic sweetens have their own problems that are worse than those of sugar, and perhaps worse than those of high fructose corn syrup. Sugar is a problem as it has been so refined and processed that it no longer resembles food. Your body has a hard time to digest it and can only do so by robbing nutrition from your body.
What are the alternatives?
Real, whole, raw honey is one, but it is unlikely that you will find that in your local grocery store or supermarket. You may have to find a local, ethical country producer.
You can find more information on the safe, natural and alternative sweeteners that will help you in your quest for healthy eating for weight loss.
