Hey, Dr. Mirkin, IS HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP BAD?
Article by Dr. Mirkin:
Sixty percent of North Americans believe that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is more unhealthful than other sugars, even though the number of calories, the amount of fructose and the sweetness is virtually the same as table sugar. They think incorrectly that HFCS-sweetened drinks cause obesity more than drinks sweetened with table sugar or fruit sugars.
Because HFCS has such a bad reputation, The Corn Refiners Association has petitioned the United States Food and Drug Administration to change its name from HFCS to CORN SUGAR.
Table sugar is made from sugar cane or sugar beets, while HFCS is made from corn starch. HFCS is cheaper than beet or cane sugar, so it is a major source for calories for Americans today.
ALL sugared drinks (including fruit juice) increase risk for diabetes, metabolic syndrome (prediabetes) and heart attacks (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August 13, 2010).
This study shows that the more sugared drinks you take, the larger your waist circumference, and the higher your bad LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. The only safe time to take sugared drinks is during or immediately after exercise. HFCS is not more harmful than any other sugared drink.
DIABETES PROCESS
DR. Pinna says:
Sorry, Dr. Mirkin, but you forgot your biochemistry course.
FRUCTOSE is metabolized entirely differently than GLUCOSE.
“Fructose” is a different sugar than “Glucose.”AND, its metabolism is markedly different, producing high levels of “triglycerides” in the liver.
Here is the excerpt from Wikipedia:
“Synthesis of triglyceride from DHAP and glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate Carbons from dietary fructose are found in both the free fatty acid and glycerol moieties of plasma triglycerides.
High fructose consumption can lead to excess pyruvate production, causing a buildup of Krebs cycle intermediates. Accumulated citrate can be transported from the mitochondria into the cytosol of hepatocytes, converted to acetyl CoA by citrate lyase and directed toward fatty acid synthesis.
Additionally, DHAP can be converted to glycerol 3-phosphate as previously mentioned, providing the glycerol backbone for the triglyceride molecule. Triglycerides are incorporated into very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are released from the liver destined toward peripheral tissues for storage in both fat and muscle cells.”
If we look at the results, you will find that these triglycerides form atherosclerotic patches in the arteries and cause heart disease and diabetes!
SUMMARY
GLUCOSE is a direct source of energy. It enters every cell with the assistance of insulin.
FRUCTOSE is a direct source of FAT, not energy!
Fructose is harmful, Glucose is beneficial. Both, ULTIMATELY, provide calories and can produce obesity.
Check it out, Dr. Mirkin!
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Filed Under: Added Sugar • Food • Health
i wonder if an increase of only 5% of fructose would make such a difference, as it´s stated about HFCS.