Table of contents:
- What is high fructose corn syrup?
- What are the dangers of high fructose corn syrup?
- 1. Increases the risk of obesity
- 2. Increase the risk of diabetes
- 3. Increase other health problems
Like to consume sweet drinks in packaging or soft drinks? These drinks usually contain an artificial sweetener called high fructose corn syrup. Well, this high fructose corn syrup is what makes the drink you like is bad for health. What are the dangers of high fructose corn syrup?
What is high fructose corn syrup?
High-fructose or corn syrup high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an artificial sweetener made from corn syrup. You may often see this name if you look at the ingredients that are commonly listed in food or soft drink packaging.
High-fructose corn syrup contains carbohydrates with a composition of 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Glucose is the simplest form of carbohydrate and is the main source of energy for the body. Glucose is very easy to use by every body cell.
Meanwhile, fructose is a type of carbohydrate commonly found in fruits naturally. The fructose contained in high fructose corn syrup will be converted by the body into fat and stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. If needed by the body, this glycogen will be converted into glucose for use as energy.
Fructose is actually harmless to the body. However, high fructose corn syrup usually adds excess fructose intake to your body. This is what makes high-fructose corn syrup harmful to the body if consumed in excess.
What are the dangers of high fructose corn syrup?
Unfortunately, the soft drinks you consume usually contain sweeteners from high-fructose corn syrup. Not just a little, the high fructose corn syrup content in soft drinks can be so excessive that this has a negative impact on the body.
Some of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup for health are:
1. Increases the risk of obesity
Basically, consuming excessive amounts of sweet foods or drinks can indeed increase your risk of obesity. Moreover, consumption of sweet drinks containing high fructose corn syrup.
As previously mentioned, consumption of high fructose corn syrup can lead to excessive fructose intake in the body. Where, excess fructose is then stored in the body in the form of fat. This is because fructose is metabolized in the liver. This process can certainly lead to accumulation of fat in the body, resulting in weight gain and even obesity.
Another theory exists that states that weight gain is caused by fructose failing to stimulate insulin and leptin production. Where, both are what help regulate body weight and food consumption.
2. Increase the risk of diabetes
Excessive intake of high-fructose corn syrup can increase belly fat buildup and lead to insulin resistance. Both of these things can then cause you to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Regular consumption of high-fructose corn syrup can cause insulin to not respond well to carbohydrate consumption. Thus, the body's cells are less able to metabolize and digest carbohydrates. If this happens for a long time, it can cause an increase in insulin and blood sugar levels.
3. Increase other health problems
Consumption of high fructose corn syrup has also been linked to many other diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and some cancers. Excess fructose in the body has been shown to cause inflammation, which can lead to several of these diseases. High insulin levels caused by excess fructose consumption can also trigger tumor growth.
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