High-fructose corn syrup or corn sugar is a highly processed sweetener and preservative which is derived from chemically altered cornstarch. It is one of the most common ingredients to sweeten processed food, beverages and fruit-flavored drinks. It is used to replace cane sugar which is more expensive, but it is believed to be less healthy and can possibly cause some adverse effects to your health.
High-fructose corn syrup is actually similar to table sugar in chemical composition. But the fact that it is processed is a concern to many health experts because they believe that its effect on the body can be worse than other types of sugar.
Medical science has linked sugar consumption to many health issues such as dental cavities, obesity, diabetes, and increased triglyceride levels which are related to heart attacks. But it has not established that high-fructose corn syrup can do much worse to human health.
The American Heart Association, a U.S. organization that fosters proper heart care to reduce deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, recommend the daily consumption of no more than 100 calories (six teaspoons) of added sugar for women and no more than 150 calories (9 teaspoons) of added sugar per day for men.
Here are some ways to minimize consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and sugar:
1. Avoid drinking sweetened non-diet sodas. Water is still the best drink for hydration and it can't be substituted by any other beverage. But if you want to drink a beverage, choose the unsweetened type.
2. When choosing breakfast cereals, pick the one which do not contain sugar.
3. Minimize consumption of processed foods such as cakes, cookies and microwave meals.
4. For your snacks, you should choose fruits, vegetables, whole grain crackers, yogurt or low-fat cheese instead of sugary snack foods like cookies, pastries and candies.
We all know that sugar and many types of sweeteners are only pleasing to your taste buds but they are not beneficial to your health. You should avoid consuming them in large amounts in order to avoid its health risks which can be fatal.
