Post #570322 by MadDogMike on Sun, Dec 26, 2010 9:05 PM

The whole HFCS argument IS very entertaining, but aside from taste there really isn't much difference to your body. The designation of HIGH FRUCTOSE Corn Syrup came about to differentiate it from regular corn syrup (like Karo). Karo is mostly glucose, while HFCS55 used in soft drinks is 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Fructose HAS been shown in some studies to increase obesity when compared to glucose.

Now here's the rub - soft drinks never were made from regular corn syrup (glucose), they were made from cane and beet sugar (sucrose) which is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. By changing from "real sugar" to the "evil HFCS", they have increased your fructose intake by a whopping 5 percent! Unless you are drinking a buttload of soda, it's not gonna make any difference. To further complicate matters, baked goods are made with HFCS42 (42% fructose) which actually has less fructose than sugar.

And yes, HFCS is less expensive because of corn subsidies and tariffs on imported sugar.