January 14, 2013  

Hot off the press this week.  High frictose corn syrup(HFCS) is in the news again. In the Journal JAMA this week a research team led by Kathleen Page studied the effects of HFCS on the hypothalamus and the hunger signal.

In 20 adult volunteers, they tested their brains' response to 300 milliliters of a beverage containing HFCS versus one containing the same amount of regular glucose at random intervals. The assessments were done with a functional MRI to see the direct effect on the brain at the hunger center. 

The researchers noted that glucose lowered the activity in this area while fructose had the opposite effect. This difference was noted to be accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the glucose group but not in the HFCS group.

What it all boils down to is that companies are using HFCS because it is cheep and sweet, but they are not looking at the ramifications of fructose on our liver, brain and waistline. There is more than enough evidence at this point to warrant us to stop using HFCS in all its forms.  See my earlier discussions from newsletter 18 and 22. 

As always, a balanced natural diet is the best. Where on earth did HFCS exist until man produced it? The evidence for the health benefit of HFCS does not exist at all. The evidence against is here. You have to judge accordingly. 

Natural is best,