I continue to be alarmed by the onslaught of so-called "information," which suggests that high-fructose corn syrup is not responsible for obesity and that it's not as bad as sugar.
In fact, I'm worried by the idea that "the tide of research, if not public opinion, has shifted," as Elizabeth Weise suggests in a USA Today article, "New data: High-fructose corn syrup no worse than sugar."
Get the truth, please, about the potential harms of high-fructose corn syrup, which you can learn from my two recent Gab With the Gurus Radio Shows — including this radio show, which featured several experts, and this radio show (listen to the last 15 minutes), which presented another well known expert, Dr. Richard Johnson, author of The Sugar Fix: The High Fructose Fallout That Is Making You Fat and Sick.
If you dig even a little bit into this subject, you'll find that the average American does NOT consume moderate amounts of high-fructose corn syrup. If you're eating or drinking prepared, processed or fast foods — which is what most Americans do — you're taking in high amounts of the stuff. And all that HFCS can lead to numerous health problems, including heart disease, cancer, obesity and much more. (For that matter, too much sugar (or sucrose) is dangerous, too, as I reveal in my book SUGAR SHOCK!)
It's understandable that USA Today's reporter would come to the conclusion that HFCS is "no worse" than sugar since its article came out after the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published five articles, which were part of a December supplement, "High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Everything You Wanted to Know, but Were Afraid to Ask."
[Thankfully, USA Today reporter Elizabeth Weise does point out that according to endocrinologist Peter Havel, Ph.D. (who wrote one of the new papers), if you consume high levels of fructose — whether from high-fructose corn syrup or from table sugar — you'll get increased triglycerides (fat) in the bloodstream, and that could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.]
But the all-important question is this: Can we really believe the findings of these five studies, which were presented on April 30, 2007 in Washington, D.C. at the American Society for Nutrition Public Information Committee symposium for 2007, titled "High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Everything You Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"?
For instance, how can we trust findings research about high-fructose corn syrup that's paid for by a company using HFCS? Take for example, this study, "High-fructose corn syrup, energy intake, and appetite regulation," that was supported by PepisoCo North America. Of course, PepsiCo, in turn, uses huge quantities of high fructose corn syrup to put into its sodas.
And should we believe results of this study, "Straight talk about high-fructose corn syrup: what it is and what it ain't," which was supported by the American Society of Nutrition?
You see, the American Society for Nutrition invites members of the industry to be involved with the organization.
In fact, American Society for Nutrition's Sustaining Members include companies that regularly use high fructose corn syrup, sugar or artificial sweeteners — Cadbury Schweppes; Campbell Soup Company, Global Nutrition & Research; ConAgra Foods, Inc.; Kellogg Company; Kraft Foods; Mars, Inc.; McNeil Nutritionals; Monsanto Company; National Dairy Council; Nestle Nutrition Institute of Nestle USA; PepsiCo; The Sugar Association, Inc.; and Unilever Bestfoods.
FYI, I'll write more later about these new high-fructose corn syrup studies. Look for a future post — I can't spend much more time on this now, because I'm still settling into my new place, getting organized and preparing for the holidays.