Posts Tagged ‘High-Fructose Corn Syrup’

Hypertension is very often related to diet. The fact that hypertension is on the rise is a tell tail sign that it is linked to lifestyle. Excess fructose has been know to contribute to hypertension. Fructose contributes to hypertension by inhibiting a key enzyme called endothelian nitric oxdide synthase, which is located in the walls of blood vessels and is essential for the production of the vasodilator, nitric oxide. This allows the blood vessels to relax, and facilitates a smooth blood flow. Nitric oxide prevents hypertension, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction.

At least one of those things got your attention. It’s also known a diet that is high in plant food will keep blood pressure in check. A diet high in whole foods is usually low in high-fructose corn syrup. Whatever increases your blood pressure readings will also increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

A diet high in fructose increases the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), according to a paper presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, California. The findings suggest that cutting back on processed foods and beverages that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may help prevent hypertension.

Many processed foods have high-fructose corn syrup, because it is relatively inexpensive. That is probably a nice way of saying it is one of the cheapest sweetener that a manufacturer could use. Americans consume more high fructose corn syrup than ever before. This has been one of the biggest changes in our diets. By consuming vast amounts of processed foods we have eliminated most of the nutrient dense food.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help lower blood pressure. This is a substance found in fish, grass fed beef, but also in plants, nuts and seeds. The real problem with all the processed foods is Omega-6 fatty acids is found in just about all pre-packaged foods. This puts the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acid at a level that is not natural. Americans take in 10 to 25 times more Omega-6 than is optimal. The Omega-6 fatty acid load comes from the type of cheap vegetables oils used in processed food.

This is a connection that is made not only by studies, but by observations. The rise in a whole host of diet related conditions, which are tied to hypertension, shows the relationship between diet and hypertension.

Is it glucose or is it fructose that can derail your health.  Can one be worst than the other?  Well according to University of California researchers designed a study to find out. They took 23 overweight or obsessed individuals ranging in age from 43 to 70 and controlled what they ate. For two weeks they got a high-carb (55%) moderate- fat (30%) diet that was balanced and the diet gave them no more energy than they would spend exercising.

After they had everything measured such as their heart disease risk factors, blood fats, cholesterol, and weight they were allowed to eat whatever they wanted. The one thing that each person had to include was three sweetened drinks every day. This drink gave the volunteers 25% of their recommended daily energy intake.

Half the subjects drank drinks that were sweetened with pure glucose. The rest of the volunteers had drinks sweetened with pure fructose. At the same time the volunteers were tested for heart risk factors. After eight weeks the volunteers continued to drink the same beverages that they had been, but they were returned to an energy-balanced diet.

It took only two weeks after they started their drinks that the difference became apparent. The volunteers that drank the fructose sweetened beverages showed signs of increased risk of hear disease. The rest who drank glucose sweetened drinks did not. The fructose drinkers LDL “bad” cholesterol blood fats increased. Their insulin sensitivity decreased which meant their diabetes risk was increasing.

The fructose drinkers gained about 3 pounds while the glucose group had not gained any weight. The study says basically high-fructose syrup posses a threat to your health. Of course everyone in the beverage and medical community said it is too early to draw any conclusions. So everyone has the green light to continue consuming these drinks. High-fructose syrup is bitter sweet, because it consists of a sweet taste with a bitter aftertaste. The bitter after taste lingers for years as you encounter weight and health problem.

They said they do not yet know the safe level of consumption of these substances. How about there is no safe level. The only thing is some people will poison themselves faster with a higher dose. It does not even pay to test these substances, the evidence is already available. The country consumes lots of high-fructose corn syrup in drinks, cereals, frozen food, baked goods, and ketchup. This is an inexpensive sweetener, so what do you think will be in the processed food that you purchase from the store?

Remember table sugar is similar to a 50-50 combination of fructose and glucose. It really is simple, refined sugar and high- fructose corn syrup are processed sources of sweeteners with nothing whole or natural about them. It is bitter sweet fact that these ingredients are a danger to your health. No amount of studies will vindicate high-fructose syrup and make it a safe product for consumption. High-fructose syrup is a bitter sweet for all that consume it.

High-fructose corn syrup relationship to diabetes has been studied. It is a common additive used in processed foods. The list includes soft drinks, salad dressings, luncheon meats, soups, cakes, cereals, and commercial breads. It appears in most processed foods, which is the largest part of American’s diet. Corn-derived sweeteners are less expensive than sugar, for manufacturers.

Part of the problem is the dietary overload of this substance, it appears every where. High- Fructose Corn Syrup is in foods used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From fast food, pre-package food, snack food, and beverages we are saturated with this additive. Teens can take in 80 percent more of this additive than adults.

Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where this additive is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient. Since children consume more high-fructose corn syrup it is a troublesome finding. 

The rise in disease is because of poor lifestyle choices. In America we are experiencing an epidemic of obesity, chronic conditions, and metabolic syndrome. Cases of type 2 diabetes are on the rise for adults, teens, and elementary school children. There are a growing number of new cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This will prove to have dire consequences on people’s health.

In the past we consumed a small amount fructose per day from fruits and vegetables. This is the first time humans have consumed fructose at such high levels. Fructose is metabolized differently from glucose. Glucose can be stored in the liver for conversion to energy. Fructose is rapidly metabolized in the liver, flooding metabolic pathways increasing triglyceride synthesis, which promotes fat storage in the liver. This may cause a rise in serum triglycerides, which in turn elevates cardiovascular risk. Increased fat storage in the liver, leads to obesity.

High-Fructose corn syrup relationship to diabetes is evident from the fact that when this additive was added to our food supply diabetes rates started rising. High-fructose intake is accompanied by a reduction in insulin sensitivity. When entering the liver, it disturbs glucose metabolism, and  leads to insulin resistance which is a marker for type 2 diabetes.