Your Fitness Questions, Answered by the Anytime Guy

Question:

I hear so many conflicting reports when it comes to high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Is it really as bad as some people say it is?

Answer:

Let’s be clear—HFCS is not good for you. It certainly doesn’t offer any health benefits, that’s for sure. But if you’ve been convinced that it poses additional health risks compared to sugar, or is simply worse for you from a health perspective, then you may need to rethink things.

Scientific evidence indicates that high-fructose corn syrup and sugar, or sucrose, affect the body in very similar ways. Unfortunately, some health professionals have ignored this research when discussing HFCS with the general public and/ or the media.

I think some of this misinformation stems from the name of the ingredient itself. Fructose is known to have several adverse metabolic effects on the body, so based on the name, one might assume that HIGH-fructose corn syrup does indeed pose additional health risks above and beyond that of traditional sugar. However, HFCS is not really high in fructose. In fact, it has about the same amount of fructose as regular table sugar, which is comprised of equal parts fructose and glucose. Bottom line—avoid HFCS as much as possible because it’s considered a source of empty calories and it’s devoid of nutritional value.

Expert answers to your health and wellness questions.

By Grant Pritchard  / Anytime Fitness