High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a harmful metabolic agent that disrupts the liver, causes insulin spikes, and promotes fat storage, acting as a major driver of the obesity epidemic.

noli's read

The idea that HFCS is solely responsible for obesity is an oversimplification. While studies (particularly in animal models and some research on excessive fructose consumption) show adverse metabolic effects, the current scientific consensus indicates that HFCS and table sugar (sucrose) are metabolized in nearly identical ways by the human body (sources: Examine.com, PubMed/Systematic review). Both are composed of glucose and fructose in very similar proportions. Research suggests that it is not HFCS specifically, but the excess total caloric intake from added sugars in all their forms that impacts metabolic health (source: Harvard Medical School). The temporal association between the increase in HFCS consumption and obesity is a correlative observation, not direct proof of exclusive causality. In summary, while reducing added sugars is beneficial for health, singling out HFCS as the sole culprit obscures the risks associated with other added sugars.

the sources

1. 1Malik VS, Hu FB 2019
2. 2Yang Q, Zhang Z, Gregg EW, et al. 2014
3. 3Westwater ML, Fletcher PC, Ziauddeen H 2016