On a diet? Trying to maintain your figure, eat right? No problem... except one four-word ingredient that will easily add back all the stubborn pounds you are trying to shed. You ready? The culprit is: HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) may be one unique cause of the modern obesity epidemic and you will find it in almost every snack and soft drink! HFSC is like sugar... times 100. While glucose, another simple common molecule of sugar, gets processed by our bodies and metabolized (broken down for energy), the body does not utilize fructose as well and any excess gets stored as FAT! Also, certain enzymes in the body respond to high glucose levels and promote satiety, letting us know we are full, but fructose bypasses this mechanism.

In defense of HFCS, industry associations such as the Corn Refiners Association have repeatedly denied that scientific evidence exists to suggest HFCS is uniquely responsible for the obesity epidemic. However, HFCS consists of 55% fructose (the rest is mainly glucose), which, in excess, does not only turn into fat but may also be linked to pancreatic cancer.

In November 2007, a cohort study found an association between high intakes of fructose (and sucrose) and pancreatic cancer, but the researchers have stated that insulin resistance might also play a part. The Hawaii-Los Angeles Multiethnic Cohort Study analyzed food consumption data for 162,150 participants by food frequency questionnaires.[1] They followed up participants over an eight year period, during which time 434 of them developed pancreatic cancer. A significant link was seen with fructose from fruit and fruit juice intake (but not with soda intake). While results of this study are interesting, limitations also exist, as the food frequency questionnaire relies on individuals reporting their own consumption.

Bottom line: HFCS is fattening, potentially harmful, and fails to satisfy. So why do manufacturers use this horrifying ingredient instead of old-fashioned corn syrup? HFCS tastes sweeter, maintains a longer shelf life, mixes well with other foods and is cheaper.  

Where in your pantry is this sneaky syrup hiding? Surprisingly, you will find HFCS in:

Certains breads, ketchup and even salad dressings! Also look out for: packaged snacks, crackers (eg, Wheat Thins, Cheese Nips), soft drinks, jams, jellies, yogurt, ice-cream and Miracle Whip. The USDA recommends no more than 40 grams, or about 10 teaspoons, of added sugars for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. Be careful! The average American consumes 20.5 teaspoons of added sugars each day. Read labels to verify how much HFCS is sneaking into your diet. Here's a helpful hint: one tablespoon of ketchup has one teaspoon of HFCS. Control your portions!