High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

A processed sweetener made from corn that contains a high percentage of fructose—linked to obesity and metabolic disease.

It’s Not Just the Syrup—It’s the Pathway It Triggers

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a major driver of metabolic disease—not just because of its sweetness, but because of how it’s metabolized.

HFCS floods the liver with unregulated fructose, triggering fat creation, uric acid spikes, and cellular energy depletion. But even if you avoid it, your body can still generate fructose internally through stress, high-carb diets, or dehydration—activating the same damaging pathways.

That’s where SugarShield comes in. Designed to support the body’s response to fructose metabolism—whether from HFCS or internal sources—it helps protect energy balance, insulin sensitivity, and long-term metabolic health.

Explore SugarShield

What is High-Fructose Corn Syrup?

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch. It's commonly used in processed foods and soft drinks because it's cheap, stable, and sweeter than sugar.

Composition

HFCS typically contains:
- HFCS-55 (used in soda): 55% fructose, 45% glucose
- HFCS-42 (used in baked goods): 42% fructose

This higher ratio of fructose compared to sucrose (which is 50/50) is part of the concern.

Why It's Harmful

Fructose is metabolized differently than glucose—bypasses insulin regulation and is processed almost entirely by the liver. HFCS contributes to:
- Fatty liver
- Uric acid production
- Insulin resistance
- Cravings and overeating

The Bigger Problem

HFCS is a marker of processed food consumption, but the real issue is fructose load—whether from sugar, HFCS, or internal production.

At LIV3, we want people to understand that even if you cut HFCS, your body may still produce fructose in response to other triggers. That's why we focus on blocking the fructose pathway itself.

Luteolin: The Anti-Sugar Nutrient You’ve Never Heard Of (But Need to Know About)

Luteolin is a rare plant flavonoid shown to naturally quiet the fructose pathway—the same metabolic switch targeted by pharmaceutical fructokinase inhibitors. By protecting cellular energy and lowering uric acid and inflammation, it helps restore the stable, high-efficiency metabolism that modern diets have lost.

Huntington’s Disease Breakthrough: Gene Therapy AMT-130 and the Energy Failure Model

A new gene therapy has slowed Huntington’s disease progression for the first time — a historic breakthrough. Seen through the energy failure model, it also highlights how metabolic stress like fructose stacks on top of genetic insults, and why research on luteolin is showing promise across multiple neurodegenerative conditions.

Tylenol, Autism Risk, and Fragile Energy: What Does the Science Really Say?

The Tylenol–autism debate shows how easily developing brains can be tipped when cellular energy is fragile. Our research suggests a bigger story: the Fructose Model — a framework showing how daily sugar exposure creates the same low-energy state across the whole body.

The Fructose–Insulin Connection: What Doctors Aren’t Telling You About Weight Loss Resistance

Doctors often blame carbs in general, but that's only part of the story. To really answer what causes insulin resistance, we need to look at fructose. If the engine is the problem, pressing harder on the gas pedal won't help. Instead, the solution is to improve how the cell handles fuel and gradually rebuild insulin sensitivity.

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High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

It’s Not Just the Syrup—It’s the Pathway It Triggers