I’ve long thought that the hype over high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is just that — hype. After all, sugar is sugar. Right? Wrong. At least according to a recent study by researchers at Princeton University..
Apparently HFCS is significantly more fattening than plain old table sugar, even on a calorie-for-calorie basis.
Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same…
A second experiment monitored long-term weight gain, body fat, and triglyceride levels over a period of six months.
…rats on a diet rich in high-fructose corn syrup showed characteristic signs of a dangerous condition known in humans as the metabolic syndrome, including abnormal weight gain, significant increases in circulating triglycerides and augmented fat deposition, especially visceral fat around the belly.
The underlying cause of the difference remains unknown. The bad news here is that HFCS is a major component of a huge array of products in your local grocery store, making it very difficult for the average person to avoid.
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