What is high fructose corn syrup and are there any health concerns?
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener made from cornstarch. It is made by breaking down corn into molecules of glucose. Half the glucose molecules are then chemically changed into fructose. On food labels, you may see HFCS called “glucose-fructose”. HFCS is a very common added sugar found in processed foods. The most common food to find HFCS is in pop. In fact, 70% of HFCS ends up in soft drinks! However, it is also found in fruit drinks, candied fruits, canned fruits, dairy desserts, flavoured yogurts, cereals, baked goods and jellies. Animal studies show that consuming HFCS may affect some risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. However, there is no scientific evidence that shows that HCFS increases the risk for diabetes or heart disease in humans. Foods that contain HFCS may also be high in calories, and eating too many of those foods could lead to weight gain. One health concern with eating too much HFCS is that it can cause digestive problems, like pain, bloat
