By: Zoran Jagodić |
Caution - glucose-fructose syrup! |
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You wanted to snack a single cookie, but then you have realized you have eaten a whole box?
Are you quenching your thirst with fizzy drinks, but still want to drink more?
The reason is not the lack of self-discipline, but a type of sugar that is found in most processed products.
It is called glucose-fructose syrup.
What is glucose-fructose syrup?
Glucose-fructose syrup (high-fructose corn syrup, HFCS) is a type of corn syrup.
It is produced in such a way that glucose is converted to fructose with the help of enzymes in order to achieve the desired sweetness. That creates a mixture of glucose and fructose, which is called glucose-fructose syrup.
Manufacturers often use glucose-fructose syrup as it is significantly cheaper than sugar. In addition, HFCS extends the shelf life of the product. Of course, this additive is very "desirable" in the world of fast food.
Glucose-fructose syrup is widely used as a substitute for sugar in many fizzy drinks, juices, yogurts, cereals, pastries and ready-made soups.
Unfortunately, like many other additives, glucose-fructose syrup has a devastating effect on our health.
Why is this syrup dangerous?
Glucose-fructose syrup is a danger not only to our weight. Fructose is generally a poison for our body because it is not seen as food by our brain.
Fructose, like glucose, is a simple sugar. The only difference is that the fructose matures more slowly in our intestines than glucose, and then enters the bloodstream more slowly – that is why its absorption is limited.
Fructose enters the liver where via bloodstream and then it is either converted to glucose and stored as glycogen or converted into fat and stored in the vicinity of vital organs.
Research performed on two groups of children has shown that fructose slows metabolism and causes obesity.
In addition, it was found that the glucose-fructose syrup contains significant amounts of mercury, which is used in the glucose production process.
It is assumed that the glucose-fructose syrup:
- increases the amount of fat cells in the vicinity of the heart, liver and other vital organs
- encourages the development of diabetes, obesity and heart disease
- increases triglycerides
- slows metabolism
- adversely affects kidney function
- increased blood pressure
- is associated with osteoporosis, anemia, tooth decay and osteoarthritis
Link to obesity
The number of obese people in the world is caused by glucose-fructose syrup
Many scholars, among them Robert H. Lustig (Sugar: The Bitter Truth) believes that fructose is responsible for the incredible growth of obesity and heart disease in the world.
The problem is that the glucose-fructose syrup is a trap for brains, our bodies, because fructose does not give a signal of satiety.
"The most dangerous ingredient of this syrup is fructose, which artificially increases the appetite and leads to many health problems. Fructose gives ambiguous signals to brain cells regarding the satiety.
If you eat sugar your body secretes insulin, which sends information to the brain cells that we have eaten enough. High values of insulin close our appetite. Fructose does not stimulate such abundant insulin secretion, and therefore we do not have the feeling of satiety " - said Dr. Carel Le Roux, a specialist in metabolic medicine at Imperial College in London.
Tragically, the U.S. government provides new incentives to grow corn from which this syrup is produced.
At the same time, statistics show that as many as 33 percent of children are obese, and billions of dollars are spent for treatments of health problems associated with obesity.
For all of this, the next time you reach for your favorite cookies on the supermarket shelf, look at their ingredients. If you find glucose-fructose syrup on the label, dismiss the short-term satisfaction, since it could ruin your health.
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