Esentialssupplies.com - Is Corn Syrup Good For You?
As the âsugar warsâ rage, corn syrup has been getting a bad rap. Misinformation and alarmist theories abound, from all quarters. So what do you do when your recipe calls for corn syrup? As you read the labels, should you panic? We are here to breakdown the sweet and sugary basics so that you can make an informed decision.
Is corn syrup healthy for you?
Letâs consider the good, the bad and the ugly:
Here is the good news: corn syrup is not quite the evil villain it has been made out to be - that title would go to its ugly cousin, HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), which we will get to later.
As you have probably guessed, corn syrup is made from corn (maize), so its starting point is a natural food sugar. The corn is milled to produce corn starch and then further refined to create corn syrup, which is pure glucose.
The light sweetness of corn syrup makes it an ideal baking and confectionerâs ingredient - for soft chewy candies, marshmallows, cookies, pecan pie, frosting, shiny sweet sauces and ice-cream - as it doesnât crystallize like regular cane sugar and is relatively neutral in flavour. Bakers only need to use small teaspoon amounts of corn syrup to achieve that delicious softness and gooey chewy texture.
And in case you were worried about the corn syrup used in beer - you donât need to be. It is only used to activate the yeast and is eliminated during the fermentation process.
As with any refined or processed sugars - which are sources of empty calories - too much is bad for you. In fact, the principle of moderation applies across the board, and anything in excess is not good for you - including coffee, beer, wine and tacos!
So, we are agreed: too much table sugar and too much corn syrup are both bad for you. But when it comes down to the wire - if we are comparing bad with bad - the differences between regular granulated cane sugar (sucrose), and corn syrup (glucose +24% water), are not particularly relevant from a health perspective. Do your homework, read the labels, and make wise healthy choices when it comes to adding any sweetener to your diet.
According to the American Heart Association, 6-9 teaspoons (25-36 grams) of sugar is the recommended daily limit, but if you are trying to lose weight or are at risk for type 2 diabetes, then cut back.
Now for the really bad news...
Letâs talk HFCS, corn syrupâs ugly cousin. Corn syrup (100% glucose) - from the baking aisle - must not be confused with HFCS, a specific concentrated commercial variant found in many kinds of processed foods, candies and sweetened sodas. HFCS 55 has had some of its glucose converted to fructose (45% glucose and 55% fructose) as fructose is sweeter than glucose.
The really ugly news is that HFCS 90 - which is getting a lot of media attention - is highly concentrated, containing 90% fructose. (Maybe you should steer clear). Â
This is what you need to realise: 100 % glucose corn syrup, when entering your digestive system, goes directly into your bloodstream, ready to be used as energy.
The fructose from HCFS 55 or HCFS 90, however, after entering your small intestine moves to the liver, which is the only organ in the body that can metabolize fructose in large amounts. If your liver gets overloaded, it will turn that fructose into fat.
Be warned and read the labels.
If you are wanting to be responsible and play it safe, the best option is an organic light corn syrup which will set your mind at ease and help you avoid any highly processed, synthetic and GMO corn syrups on the market.
An organic light corn syrup is a natural sweetener manufactured without chemicals from GMO-free organic corn and contains no additives or artificial flavors. Â
Essentialssupplies.com is a bulk online grocery store and our team believes in helping you keep life simple without compromising your own health or the health of your family.
Browse our store and shop quality, affordable products that can be delivered to your door as soon as possible - saving you time and money.