Recent research may have found a direct link between the rising rate of obesity in North America and the introduction of a type of sweetener that's now widely used in processed foods—including sodas and fruit juices.
Consumption rose 1000% over 20 years
Researchers found the sweetener, known as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), appears to work differently than other sugars in that it stifles the body's ability to feel full, encouraging a person to eat more.
Many food manufacturers prefer HFCS to cane sugar, since it's cheaper and tastes sweeter. The study points out that HFCS is used to sweeten all non-dietary US soft drinks and most fruit drinks. Scientists also stated that consumption of HFCS rose more than 1000% from 1970 to 1990.
As much 700 calories/day from HFCS
Researchers reviewed consumption records from the US Agriculture Department from 1967 to 2000, combining those data with previous research and their own analyses.
As a result, they calculated that Americans two years old and older consume an average of 132 calories per day through HFCS.
The study also concluded that the top 20% of consumers of caloric sweeteners in the US ingest an average of 318 calories per day from HFCS. For some, it's as much as 700 calories per day.
Reference:
1. healthscout.com
