High Fructose Corn Syrup Vs. Sugar
The sweet taste of both high fructose corn syrup and sugar make them ideal sweetening agents. Although they may have the same sweet effect on foods, there are some important differences between these two products.
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About High Fructose Corn Syrup
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High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is composed primarily of fructose and glucose. While sugar also contains both in a one to one ratio, HFCS contains either 42 or 55 percent fructose. Since it came into high production in the early 1970s, the use of HFCS has skyrocketed, as shown by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2008 study at sweetsurprise.com.
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Benefits of HFCS
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The benefits of HFCS include its sweetness, stability and low production costs. According to an article by Shannon Clark on Foxnews.com, HFCS also has a minimal effect on insulin and blood sugar levels, which decreases its "sugar high" effect.
About Sugar
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Sugar is derived from either the sugar beet or sugar cane, as noted at sugar-bureau.co.uk. Sugars can be white or brown, based on the level of molasses retained during production.
Benefits of Sugar
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Sugar is, according to the FDA, a natural product; that is, it is closely derived from a plant source. The best sugars are contained in fruits and vegetables, as Clark notes. Sugar's sweet taste enhances the flavor of baked goods and beverages.
Theories/Speculation
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Ongoing studies continue to weigh the benefits of HFCS versus those of sugar. For those who wish to avoid processed foods, sugar is the obvious choice. Although advocates of HFCS maintain that it is a natural product, as it is derived from corn, the FDA will not allow it to be marketed as such, due to the manipulation of its chemical bonds that takes place during processing.
While some claim that HFCS and sugar are identical in sweetness, others maintain that HFCS is sweeter and more addictive than sugar. There is one point of agreement: both HFCS and sugar should always be used moderately.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Chocolate Cake" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: ajagendorf25 (Alex) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
