ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — The average person doesn’t usually read the label on their favorite snack before opening it up and enjoying, but with harmful ingredients like High Fructose Corn Syrup in some of the most popular snacks on the market, it’s important to be wary of what you’re consuming.

What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch that is used to sweeten many processed foods and drinks.

Michigan State University (MSU) defines it as “a blend of the simple sugars fructose and glucose and is produced by treating regular corn syrup with enzymes, to increase the fructose content to either 42 or 55 percent”.

“High Fructose” differs from traditional fructose because it has a greater fructose content compared to regular, untreated corn syrup.

Why HFCS is used

HFCS is known by the food and drink industry to be sweeter, cheaper and more shelf-stable than regular sugar.

MSU describes why using HFCS is convenient for companies in the U.S. to use:

“In the U.S., sugar derived from corn is much more readily and inexpensively available than sucrose, which comes from sugarcane or sugar beets. This allows many foods and beverages to be produced and sold much more cheaply than if they were made with sucrose.”

What products can HFCS be found in?

Below is a list of items that could likely include HFCS:

• Soda
• Juice
• Candy
• Processed snacks (like fruit snacks, puddings, granola bars, etc.)
• Cakes
• Cookies
• Brownies
• Muffins
• Pastries
• Cereals
• Jellies
• Condiments (Ketchup, Barbeque, Syrup)

How is HFCS harmful to the body?

HFCS is not only different in nature from regular fructose (found in fruits and vegetables), but it is also processed differently from glucose. Glucose is the predominant fuel source for high-intensity exercises, but it’s also easily transported and utilized by every cell in your body.

On the contrary, HFCS is a longer, more intricate process that takes a toll on the body.

An article from Healthline says the following:

“The fructose from high fructose corn syrup or table sugar needs to be converted into glucose, glycogen (stored carbs) or fat by the liver before it can be used as fuel.”

Consuming high amounts of HFCS can lead to the following health conditions:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Fatty Liver Disease
• Obesity
• Inflammation

How to avoid HFCS

To reduce or eliminate your consumption of HFCS, the most important thing to do would be to read your labels when purchasing drinks, processed foods, candy, etc. Another option would be to rely less on processed foods by choosing to eat more home-cooked meals and snacks.

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