Essay Abstract

Abstract

In America we have an epidemic of obesity in people young and old. Over the years there have been many things that are being put out as potential causes ranging from: poor diet, lack of knowledge, lack of healthier choices, and a magical substance known as High Fructose Corn Syrup. What was focused on in this paper was High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). As the years have gone by HFCS has become an additive in almost everything we eat and drink, which has given many the reason to think it’s what is causing the majority of the obesity issue. However, it’s not only because it’s found in almost everything, but also the fact that since it’s a different sugar molecularly it’s broken down and stored differently in the body. This is the one of the main scientific arguments behind those that find themselves anti-HFCS. While there are those that think HFCS is the bane of our existence there are others that feel there isn’t enough evidence to prove it’s all HFCS’s fault that we have such an issue. What’s most startling is the fact that the issue of HFCS not only affects our health but the environment as well. As the demand for corn increases more land is needed to grow it and the way they do that is by clearing vast expanses of landscape to make way for corn farms. Now this may seem like a non-issue, but as more and more trees are being cut down we lose valuable parts of the global ecosystem that processes CO2 and makes oxygen for other life, including ourselves, to breath and destroying habitats that have been around more than likely much longer than we have. One of the major issues with HFCS is that it raises the possibility for further health issues as well as potentially leading to a new environmental disaster. This disaster is the threat of monocultures. As the production of corn and corn products increases the demand for land to use for corn increases as well. The problem with this is that over time there is a threat to the biodiversity of crops being produced.

"HFCS now represents > 40% of caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages and is the sole caloric sweetener in soft drinks in the United States."