We know that weight loss is only achieved when the calories you burn exceeds the number you consume. And metabolism is a huge factor as well, the more calories your body burns while at rest, the more likely you are to shed pounds in a healthy, sustainable way. Exercise boosts metabolism, as well as other lifestyle factors such as getting sleep and drinking water. And cutting foods from your diet that are so-called “metabolism ruiners” is important as well. We spoke to nutritionist Marie Ruggles, MS, RD, CN, CDE, about the importance of eliminating high fructose corn syrup from your daily intake–it causes a number of metabolic imbalances that can slow your progress!
High fructose corn syrup
“High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one item that should be definitely be avoided,” Ruggles, author of the award-winning book “Optimize Your Immune System: Create Health & Resilience with a Kitchen Pharmacy” explains.
“It has become a popular cheap ingredient used to enhance the flavor of processed foods and actually leaves your body in a negative nutritional balance,” she continues.
HFCS is so prevalent that it can be found in cereals, juices, sodas, candy, cake, and other baked goods including frozen pizzas, and even so-called “healthy” snacks such as granola bars.
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But the truth is that the ingredient is even worse for you than regular table sugar. "A Princeton University research team found that HFCS caused significantly more weight gain in rats as compared to regular table sugar, even when their calorie intake was identical."
Because of the way our bodies process HFCS, it causes a number of metabolic imbalances that can also lead to increased abdominal fat accumulation, increasing one’s risk for developing diabetes, she explains. Yikes!
“High fructose corn syrup is appearing more frequently on food labels and consumers are often unaware of what it's doing to our bodies,” integrative nutrition and health coach Nicole Ritieni, RN, agrees.
It can cause even more than a slow metabolism. "It's linked to a number of chronic diseases, specifically metabolic issues such as diabetes and heart disease. [It also] places a major burden on the liver, which can cause weight gain, inflammation, and liver damage down the line."
