Table sugar isn't really any better or worse than HFCS. Your body's metabolism deal with them both in practically the same way, resulting in glucose and eventually "energy". Therefore, if the amounts of HFCS and table sugar are about the same, there really isn't a difference. That being said, there are also a lot of nasty preservatives in tea that you would buy from a store, so it's a safe bet that home-made tea sweetened with table sugar is "better" for you in the long run.
On the topic of "does it cause an insulin reaction" it does indeed. The syrup will lead to high blood glucose levels, just as table sugar does, and insulin will still be released to get that sugar out of your blood and into (mostly) your muscles.
source: biology student
EDIT: I'd also like to add that an insulin response is in no way a bad thing. It's something that your body naturally does and is, in fact, necessary. It's the key to getting potential energy, as glucose, into your muscles.
Last edited by Reformd; 2012-11-15 at 02:12 AM.
They aren't chemically identical. In addition, there are countless studies that shows the body processes them differently.
I much prefer natural sugar, whether it's in fruit or is brown cane sugar to any alternative.
Though I've done my best to take it as hardcore out of my diet as possible. (Have lost 21 pounds the past few months!!)
Yeah, I'm wrong about the satiety effect. Not sure where I got that from. Here's a couple studies for anyone that would like to read more about how I was wrong:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/1/116.short
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/5/1354.short
Yeah dude, this shit about HFCS is the reason I cut out all full-cal pop from my diet (except Mtn Dew Throwback on occasion).