Concerned About Fructose-Based Sweeteners?

[tex]

Evidently we should be. New research proves that the old claims about fructose-based sweeteners, and High Fructose Corn Syrup, (HFCS), sweeteners being equivalent to conventional sugar sweeteners is only partially true. True, they apparently do not cause additional weight gains, when compared with non-fructose-based sweeteners, but they have now been found to have other insidious effects, which may well contribute to many of the major health issues that plague a high percentage of the population in the "developed" countries of the world.

Researchers found that rats ingesting these sweeteners showed elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, but the most important finding was significant increases in levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase, in blood samples taken from animals fed fructose and HFCS. Alanine aminotransferase is most commonly known as ALT, a liver enzyme that is always checked in a complete blood count, since increased levels of this enzyme are almost always indicative of liver damage or disease. This combination of liver changes, might contribute to the onset, or development of the Metabolic Syndrome, the effects of which might also be exacerbated by the consumption of a typical Western high-fat diet.

http://www.beveragedaily.com/Products/F ... Syndrome-X

Perhaps it's not just a coincidence that so many health issues have escalated since about the time when HFCS was eagerly adopted by manufacturers, to replace other, higher-priced sweeteners, (such as cane sugar).

Tex

[mbeezie]

Tex,

It's well know that sugar affects triglycerides and people with high levels respond better to lower sugar diets. I read research years ago about the effects of HFCS - evil stuff. HCFS is like gluten - it's in everything.

There definitely has been a rise in NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and that has been associated with obesity. In fact, it seems that most everyone has a fatty liver these days. We simply eat TOO much . . . too much sugar, too many grains just too much of everything. It's no wonder we are seeing increases in liver disease.

The good news is that the liver is an amazing organ that can basically heal itself (if it is done before cirrhosis sets in).

Mary Beth