Big Food Funds Study Letting High Fructose Corn Syrup Off the Hook for Obesity

Note from Connie: One of the most disputed sugar-related theories out there is whether or not high fructose corn syrup is linked to obesity. As I pointed out in SUGAR SHOCK!, a number of studies from respected scientists have concluded that HFCS is processed differently in our bodies and that it can lead to weight gain and even type 2 diabetes or heart disease. But now a new study -- this one funded by the sugar industry -- claims the theory is hogwash. Read Jennifer Moore's take on the subject.

A new study concludes there's not enough proof to support the notion that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is more responsible for obesity than other foods with the same number of calories, like sugar.

So should you stop fretting over food labels trying to weed out stuff with HFCS from your diet? Not so fast.

Surprise, surprise -- Tate & Lyle, a UK food corporation that makes a ton of money selling high fructose corn syrup and a host of other damaging sweeteners, funded this research.

A panel of experts led by Richard Forshee, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland Center for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Policy (CFNAP), reveiwed the scientific literature linking HFCS and obesity, dismissing it as "unreliable" and "inconclusive".

In fact, as she mentioned in her introduction, Connie amply documents research in her book SUGAR SHOCK!

One example: in 2004, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study showing that drinks sweetened with HFCS don't raise the body's blood glucose level as much as sucrose-sweetened beverages do. An increase in blood sugar triggers insulin production, which in turn signals to the body that it's had enough to eat or drink. So, anything that interferes with the satiety signal could lead to overeating and hence overweight.

I'm not a scientist, but you'll forgive if I'm skeptical of the conclusions reached by this sugar-industry funded research.

Jennifer Moore for SUGAR SHOCK! Blog