High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Isn't everything you see on TV true?? As the commercial says, "whether it's corn sugar or cane sugar... sugar is sugar". These commercials which are paid for by the Corn Refiners Association (shocker) are absolutely false. According to a study by Princeton University here's why.
Chemically...  High fructose corn syrup is chemically different than sucrose (table sugar). Sucrose is comprised of two simple sugars; 50% glucose and 50% fructose. HFCS is 55% fructose, 42% glucose, and 3% of larger sugar molecules called higher saccharides. A second chemical difference is that the fructose in HFCS is "free and unbound", meaning that it is ready to be absorbed and used by your body. In sucrose, the fructose molecules are each bound to a glucose molecule. Therefore, metabolically there is another step to absorbing the fructose in sucrose.
Nutritionally... In the Princeton study, they fed rats a diet of rat chow combined with water sweetened with either HFCS (half the concentration found in most soft drinks) or sucrose (the full concentration found in soft drinks). The researchers monitored weight gain, triglyceride levels, and body fat in the rats. The rats given HFCS gained 48% more weight, had significantly more triglycerides circulating in their blood stream, and put on large amounts of abdominal fat. One researcher stated, "These rats aren't just getting fat; they're demonstrating characteristics of obesity, including substantial increases in abdominal fat and circulating triglycerides. In humans, these same characteristics are known risk factors for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes".
I'm not sure why there are still questions about whether this is a good alternative to sugar. Clearly, research has shown that HFCS causes obesity when sucrose does not. I'm not advocating a diet full of sugar, I'm advocating a diet free of HFCS. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 60 pounds of HFCS per year. gross. It is present in an alarming number of our foods/drinks: juices, sodas, ketchup, salad dressing, bread, yogurt, cereal, crackers, cookies... etc... etc... etc...
The positive thing is that people seem to be catching on and food manufacturers seem to be noticing. There are products out there without this garbage in it. If you must buy soda, try natural sodas or at least the throwback editions which are made with cane sugar. Organic products are obviously the best choice.
Be diligent about checking labels and know that you are making the right choice for you and your family.