The Corn Syrup Diet

Linda Pearson

November 17, 2012

English 135 – Advanced Composition

Professor – Dr. Regina Jennings

Unhealthy Children and the Corn Syrup Diet

Unhealthy Children and the Corn Syrup Diet

The Industrial Food system may believe that High fructose corn syrup may be a valuable food product however, due to the many health issues that our children face it may not be as valuable as we think. In today’s society many of our children may turn out to have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents because of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Type II Diabetes, Obesity, and Heart Disease may be linked to one of the main ingredients found in many of our foods and beverages; High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). The Corn Refiners Association would like us to believe the HFCS is the same as sugar and would not harm us if it is consumed in moderation. HFCS has insinuated itself into much of our everyday foods that it is no longer consumed in moderation.

First let’s look at the ways in which HFCS can contribute to the rising rate of Diabetic children. The secretion of insulin in the body is believed to be hindered by the fructose contained in high fructose corn syrup. Diabetics know that it is important not to stop the production of insulin in the body. When Leptin the hormone that tells your body when you are full is no longer produced due to the fact that your body is no longer producing insulin; many of us will overeat because our brain can no longer determine that our body is full. Overeating also being a contributing factor in the high obesity rate of our children and young adults.

As a result, people intake more calories when they overeat. Fifteen percent of our daily calories should come from both sugars and fats combined according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. However, Unites States children and Teens consume almost sixteen percent of calories from...