High Fructose Corn Syrup

Interesting article in the Toronto Star on the link between HFCS and Obesity. bq. The data showed an increase in the use of high-fructose corn sweeteners in the late 1970s and 1980s "coincidental with the epidemic of obesity," said one of the researchers, Dr. George Bray, a longtime obesity scientist with Louisiana State University System's Pennington Biomedical Research Center. He noted the research didn't prove a definitive link. And the HFCS industry's reply? bq. "It's not about the high-fructose corn syrup being a part of foods. It's about how many calories we're eating against how many calories we're burning," said Alison Kretser, a registered dietitian and director of scientific and nutrition policy for the Grocery Manufacturers of America. Its members include the Coca-Cola Co., Kellogg Co. and Sara Lee Corp. Medical issues: bq. The debate over high-fructose sweeteners centers on how the body processes sugar. Unlike glucose, a major component in table sugar, fructose doesn't trigger responses in hormones that regulate energy use and appetite. That means fructose is more likely to be converted into fat, the researchers said. The taste is different too - I much prefer Mexican Coca-Cola because it is made with 100% pure cane sugar instead of HFCS. A look into the US corn subsidies might be interesting at this point...