High-fructose corn syrup: The sweetener to avoid when dieting

Those hoping to lose weight should particularly steer clear of high-fructose corn syrup, as a study has found that this is more fattening than other sweeteners.

Researchers from Princeton University found that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained a lot more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when the amount of calories the two groups consumed was the same.

Long-term consumption of the syrup also caused abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen of the animals.

“Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn’t true,” said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specialises in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction.

Last month, Dr Carel Le Roux, consultant in metabolic medicine at Imperial College London, told the Daily Mail that fructose can artificially boost appetite and cause health problems.

The newspaper said that glucose-fructose syrup it is the ingredient that makes treats such as biscuits so moreish.

Have you tried cutting sweet treats out of your diet?