High Fructose Corn Syrup intake harms memory and learning....

Today's Post:  Thursday, 5-24-2012

A new UCLA study shows it quite likely that the same overconsumption of high fructose corn syrup that has been making children and younger adults too fat also reduces memory and ability to learn.

They found this happens even with just 6 weeks of overconsumption.  Since the average American consumes more than 40 pounds of high fructose corn syrup each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that’s scary news indeed. 

Worse, most children not carefully taught better by concerned parents, have grown up thinking soft drinks and the other foods that contain high fructose corn syrup are normal and safe to consume lots of every day.  They often tend to consume more than their parents otherwise. 

In our country where jobs are tending to become knowledge work, this causes more economic harm than just the medical care costs, for treating diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart attacks, of ingesting this harmful ingredient.

The UCLA researchers noted that high fructose corn syrup is a liquid six times sweeter than cane sugar. And that it is in liquid form and costs less than sugar which is why it has been added to packaged snacks, packaged desserts, condiments like catsup, soft drinks, and even applesauce and some baby foods.

These characteristics make these foods and drinks more addictive than regular sugar and cheaper to make. 

The combination of these trends is scary indeed.

There are several likely reasons for this.  The blood sugar roller coaster disrupts the more stable sugar supply that enables our brains to work better. 

The HDL goes down and the triglycerides go up in people who ingest this much high fructose corn syrup.  This means that they have more of the small particle LDL that causes heart disease and results in lower circulation and blood vessel inflammation.  That is NOT good for brain function either!

In addition by actual test it was found that 30% of all high fructose corn syrup contains mercury, a neurotoxin.  That likely causes some of this effect too, particularly in people who ingest almost a POUND of high fructose corn syrup a week!

Was there good news in this UCLA study.

Other than strongly suggesting people NOT drink or eat things containing high fructose corn syrup, the UCLA researchers also found that omega 3 oils and particularly, the DHA omega 3 oil that has separately been found to aid and preserve brain function could act as an antidote to this effect.  It also helps that omega 3 oils also lower inflammation which ingesting high fructose corn syrup likely increases.

Eating blueberries and taking berry extract supplements such as bilberry also increases HDL and protects the health of blood vessels and has brain boosting effects.

Bottom line is that people who want to avoid excess fat, learn and remember well, and stay healthy should avoid ingesting ANY high fructose corn syrup.

It’s also true that soft drinks, packaged snacks, and packaged desserts that contain most of the high fructose corn syrup contain a whole list of other ingredients that tend to make you fat and harm your health.   People who ingest refined grains, excess salt, hydrogenated oils, and oils high in omega 6 also tend to be fatter and in far less healthy than people who don’t.

Bottom line is that people who want to avoid excess fat, learn and remember well, and stay healthy should avoid ingesting ANY high fructose corn syrup.