1. The Story of High Fructose Corn Syrup

2. Sugar is everywhere!

3. Ancestral human sugar consumption low –Annual sugar consumption for adults: 158 lbs. –Amount has increased every year –Sugar consumed in soda, candy, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and corn sugar

4. Sugars Monosaccharides - single sugars like glucose, fructose Disaccharides - double sugars Sucrose (1 glucose + 1 fructose): through photosynthesis, plants combine CO 2 + H 2 O + sun’s E n; use sucrose as transport sugar (sugar cane, beets: our table sugar) Lactose (1 galactose + 1 glucose): milk sugar (only animal- derived sugar) Fructose: fruit sugar (e.g. grapes, pears, and peaches have relatively high levels)

5. Excess glucose and fat storage Excess glucose stored into body fat after liver & muscles are full of glycogen The liver breaks apart the glucose molecules and puts them back together as fats Fat cells have a great ability to expand

6. Background 1970’s corn overproduction due to governmental subsidies Farmers losing money to overseas imports Demand to keep grocery prices affordable.

7. Background Japanese researchers developed a reliable way to turn cornstarch into syrup sweet enough to compete with liquid sugar. Formula was 55% fructose/45% glucose (since human taste buds recognize only fructose, this mix tastes sweeter than natural 1:1 mix from sucrose) Produced very cheaply, so most companies switched from sugar in the 1980s.

8. Why is it so heavily used? It mixes easily – fruit juices Extends shelf life by 20% by inhibiting microbial spoilage- yogurt Tastes extra-sweet Helps prevent freezer burn- ice cream Helps bread brown and keep it soft- hot dog buns and English muffins Results in soft textures- chewy cookies and protein bars

9. Problems with High Fructose Corn Syrup Primary sweetener in soft drinks = link to childhood obesity. Presence of soda machines in schools. Consumption of milk down 36% in 30 years, soda consumption up 200%

10. Problems with High Fructose Corn Syrup Because it is metabolized by the liver, fructose does not cause the pancreas to release insulin the way it normally does, but converts it to fat. Fructose does not enhance production of hormone leptin that signals satiety. Sugar uptake transporter in human gut transports 1 glucose + 1 fructose; 30% of US population suffer from “fructose mal-absorption” (when extra fructose present) and resulting diarrhea..

11. Problems with High Fructose Corn Syrup Fructose is more readily converted to fat in the liver, increases levels of fat in the bloodstream in the form of triglycerides May contribute to diabetic complications more readily than glucose Livers of test animals developed fatty deposits and cirrhosis

12. Problems with High Fructose Corn Syrup Interactions with oral contraceptive efficacy. Mineral losses – iron and magnesium (adolescents) Colorectal cancer (?)