Growing up with chubby cells
There’s plenty of bad news out there about high fructose corn syrup. Today brings even more, as a study reveals that fructose can actually change a growing child’s cells, making them fatter and more insulin-resistant, setting them up for a life-long struggle with diabetes and other diseases.
They say it’s natural. They say it’s fine in moderation, that it’s just like sugar.
But the mainstream’s claims about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) have been losing steam as more research reveals the truth behind this sinister sweetener (just check out the archives at www.wrightnewsletter.com for the evidence).
All of the news is disturbing. But the most recent study on the ill effects of HFCS is downright chilling.
Just yesterday, lead researcher Georgina Coade of the University of Bristol in the U.K. presented her team’s findings at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.
What they found in a laboratory study of cells from healthy-weight children really should put the final nail in the coffin of HFCS (but we all know it’s not going to go down without a MAJOR fight). Because this one’s all about our kids.
Coade’s team found that when fructose is present as children’s fat cells mature, those cells become more mature (“fatter”) in belly fat. They also found that affected fat cells (both belly and subcutaneous cells) become less sensitive to insulin.
The link between abdominal fat and higher risks of developing heart disease and diabetes is no secret. And decreased insulin sensitivity goes hand-in-hand with Type 2 diabetes. So kids who consume a lot of fructose are being more or less set up for a life-long struggle with these diseases.
And HFCS is just about EVERYWHERE. I once spent fifteen minutes trying to find a loaf of bread that didn’t contain the stuff.
I might be starting to sound like a broken record with this HFCS thing. But with obesity and diabetes at a 10-year high, something’s gotta give.
The 2009 National Health Interview Survey (from the Centers for Disease Control) shows that, last year, 28% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over were obese. In 1997, 19.4% of the same group was considered obese.
The highest obesity rates were found among adults between 40 and 59 years old. Diabetes rates also rose from 5.1% in 1997 to 9% in 2009.
How much longer can we let this go on? Will things just keep getting worse until the majority of the population is on diabetes medication? I’m sure Big Pharma would be fine with that, but we need to stop being complacent and start reclaiming our health.
You’re already doing so much for yourself by reading these e-Tips. But why not share them with your loved ones?
And when it comes to getting HFCS off our shelves, it’s all about voting with your dollars. Reading those ingredients lists can be tedious, but it’s the only way you’re going to find all the places HFCS hides in the supermarket. When you find those hiding places, avoid them like the plague and choose healthier foods for yourself and your family. The food industry is starting to get the message, but there’s still a long way to go.
Sources:
“Fructose Sugar Makes Maturing Human Fat Cells Fatter, Less Insulin-Sensitive,” Newswise (www.newswise.com)
“Obesity, Diabetes Rates at 10-Year High,” Natural Products Insider (www.naturalproductsinsider.com)
