There are many clashing views in Food and Nutrition. One of them is the issue of high fructose corn syrup (HCFS). Joseph Mercola strongly considers HFCS more deadly than sugar due to the ways that the body converts fructose to fat. He accuses the Corn Refiners Association of trying to convince us that their HFCS is equal to table sugar. The Corn Refiners Association claims that HFCS has no adverse health effect and it is the same as sucrose and honey. They also emphasize the benefits that HFCS provides to food.
Important Dates: 1970s High Fructose corn syrup use in the United States began. 1980s HFCS is used in all non-diet soft drinks in the United States. Please review and research the two thoughts and include your opinion in the discussion post. Things to think about are: effects to health, links to diabetes, fructose from fruit, is there a link between the introduction of HFCS and the rise of obesity in the past 30 years? Does HFCS affect the feeling of fullness? You do not need to respond to each of these just include your thoughts!
Please view a clip from “Saturday Night Live” mocking the clashing views. It is located at “Saturday Night Live Corn Syrup Commercial”. Be sure to view the entire clip and include your thoughts in the post!
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Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The issue of high fructose corn syrup (HCFS) and its effects on health has been a topic of debate in the field of nutrition. There are conflicting views on whether or not HFCS is harmful to the body and if it contributes to the rise of obesity in the past 30 years. In this post, we will discuss the two opposing views and provide our opinion after examining the available evidence.
Answer: The conflicting views surrounding the use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in food and beverages are concerning. Joseph Mercola’s assertion that HFCS is more deadly than sugar due to the way the body converts fructose to fat is a worrying thought. On the other hand, the Corn Refiners Association’s claim that HFCS has no adverse health effects and is the same as sucrose and honey is equally troubling.
When considering the effects of HFCS on health, it is important to think about its links to diabetes and obesity. The introduction of HFCS in the 1970s and its widespread use in non-diet soft drinks in the 1980s have coincided with the increase in diabetes and obesity rates in the past 30 years. While it is difficult to prove causation, the correlation is worth examining further.
It is also important to note that fructose consumed from fruits is not the same as HFCS. Fruits contain fiber and other nutrients that are beneficial to health. In contrast, HFCS is highly processed and devoid of any nutrients.
Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that HFCS does not affect the feeling of fullness as much as other sweeteners, which could contribute to overeating. This is a concerning finding, especially in light of the obesity epidemic.
Overall, we believe that HFCS should be further studied to determine its effects on health. It is possible that the widespread use of HFCS in processed foods and beverages has contributed to the rise of diabetes and obesity rates. Therefore, it may be prudent to limit or avoid the consumption of products that contain HFCS.
