Does High Fructose Corny Syrup Make You Hungry For More?

In a recent study from Yale University, researchers examined brain responses in individuals consuming foods in which fructose was the sweetener. They discovered that fructose sweeteners may be a large contributor to the obesity epidemic in the United States and other developed nations.

Fructose Promotes Hunger

Yale researchers compared fructose consumption to glucose consumption. Looking at brain scans, they examined which areas of the brain are stimulated while eating each type of sweetener. They found that fructose consumption promoted feelings of hunger instead of feelings of satisfaction and satiety.

“Glucose but not fructose ingestion reduced the activation of the hypothalamus, insula, and striatum—brain regions that regulate appetite, motivation, and reward processing; glucose ingestion also increased functional connections between the hypothalamic-striatal network and increased satiety.”

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup is used to sweeten most processed foods. In fact, high fructose corn syrup is present in foods that would not normally be thought of as sweet foods, such as salad dressing, mayonnaise, soup and numerous other products. High fructose corn syrup is also found in many drinks, such as soda, coffee drinks, high energy drinks and even some fruit drinks.

The Yale research helps solidify a longstanding theory that HFCS has been a leading contributor to the Obesity epidemic. Simply put, eating foods with HFCS will make you hungrier and thirsty for more. So you continue to eat, striving to feel full, and when you do, you’re beyond the point of healthy satiety.

While you are at the grocery store or market, instead of looking directly at the nutritional information on the label, first look at the ingredients. You’ll be surprised to find how many products are manufactured with High Fructose Corn Syrup.  Instead of eating these hfcs-packed processed foods as a snack or meal, add a banana, apple or an orange to your dish, they contain a healthy amount of glucose and maybe enough to make you feel full.

Do you have a sweet tooth? What are some tricks you use to make better food choice when a sweet craving hits you?

– The Alternative Daily