FitSugar

New Name, but Same Sweetener: HFCS = Corn Sugar

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:30:09 PDT

The folks that brought you those Sweet Surprise commercials defending high fructose corn syrup a couple of years back are at it again. The Corn Refiners Association is hoping to change the name of the sweet and corny syrup from the much maligned term high fructose corn syrup, to "corn sugar."

The lobby group petitioned for the name change today with the Food and Drug Administration for use on food labels. Although approval for food labeling could take up to two years, the term "corn sugar" is already being used in advertisements. The name makeover is the group's response to a 20-year low in sales of high fructose corn syrup, which has been blamed for the obesity problem. The new ads feature consumers stating, "whether it's corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can't tell the difference. Sugar is sugar." Although the two sweeteners are essentially the same nutrition-wise, HFCS has been linked to hypertension. Research also shows that the body may metabolize HFCS differently than sugar in a way that increases liver disease and diabetes.

What do you think of the name change? Are you buying it?

Yummy Links: From Lady Gaga's Meat Dress to Corn Sugar

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:30:36 PDT

PETA has some words to say about Lady Gaga's raw meat dress. - TrèsSugar
Armenians are to thank for the world's largest chocolate bar at 9,702 pounds. - Eater
Whole Foods will be the first nationwide grocer to launch a seafood ratings program. - Eatocracy
David Chang: people eat better, but creativity is dying. - Fork in the Road
Hubert Keller has shuttered Fleur de Lys in Las Vegas. - Inside Scoop
Learn how to prepare periwinkles. - Serious Eats
Michael Symon will star in Food Feuds, Food Network's knockoff of Food Wars. - Grub Street NY
Corn syrup is lobbying to change its name to corn sugar. - Consumerist

High-Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to High Blood Pressure

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST

No matter how much the Corn Refiners Association tries to convince us that high-fructose corn syrup is healthy, I'm not buying it. Now I have another reason to avoid it: new findings have linked high-fructose corn syrup to high blood pressure, aka hypertension.

In the past 20 years alone, Americans have increased fructose intake by 30 percent, and that increase tracks closely to the rise in obesity. But it may also be contributing to high blood pressure. A team of doctors at the University of Colorado Denver studied more than 4,500 adults with no prior history of hypertension and tracked their fructose intake with a dietary survey. The results are pretty persuasive, so read all about it.

Does It or Doesn't It Contain Corn Syrup?

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:00:00 PST

Corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are used by many companies instead of sugar because they're less expensive. Even though they're made from corn, they're also highly processed, so your body processes them differently than regular sugar. HFCS and corn syrup also contain more calories and carbs than sugar, and since eating them can lead to type 2 diabetes and obesity, it's best to enjoy these in moderation. Do you know which foods contain them? Take this little quiz to find out.

Question 1 of 8

Nestle Cookie Dough

High-Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Sugar

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:00:00 PST

You've probably seen those commercials boasting that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) isn't as bad for you as you think, since it's made from all-natural corn. It's misleading though because just like refined white sugar, HFCS is a highly processed sweetener. Both sugar and HFCS provide zero nutrition and loads of empty calories.

Check out the chart below to see how the two compare.

	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)
1 tbsp. white sugar	46	12	12
1 tbsp. high-fructose corn syrup	53	14.4	5

To find out if one is healthier than the other

read more. HFCS is more processed and it's cheaper than sugar so it's added to more foods. The campaign that's in favor of HFCS says it's OK to eat in moderation, but since it's found in so many foods, it's tough to avoid. HFCS also affects the hunger hormone in your body known as leptin, which creates an increase in your appetite and causes people who eat foods with HFCS to overeat. So the concept of self-control is thrown out the window. The bottom line is that your body processes both sugar and HFCS in the same way, and eating either can lead to obesity and diabetes. That means neither is healthier than the other. That's not to say you should ban all foods from your diet that contain sugar or HFCS, but try to eat less than 40 to 45 grams of added sugar a day. Read labels and look for the names sugar, HFCS, as well as this list of sugars. Source

King Corn: A Food Documentary to Watch

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:45:05 PDT

"Everything on your plate is corn." That line, uttered by an interviewee in King Corn, is essentially the premise behind this new food-focused documentary. Much the way that Super Size Me uses a clever gimmick to take on the fast-food industry, King Corn follows two friends, Ian Cheney and Kurt Ellis, who move to Iowa to find out how this unassuming crop has made its way into so many grocery-store staples in the form of corn syrup, malodextrin, and other not-so-healthy ingredients.

With humor and a vagabond attitude, Cheney and Ellis establish a one-acre corn farm so that they can follow the life cycle of their crop. Along the way, they visit the Midwest's sprawling corn complexes and interview experts about how the highly subsidized crop has become an easy target in the fight against obesity. The movie opened this weekend in New York, and over the next few weeks will be showing in other cities, including LA, San Francisco, Austin, and Chicago. (Check the King Corn site to find out if it's coming to your city.) Watch the trailer and tell me what you think when you

Sugar By Any Other Name

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:00:00 PST

Just because you walk into a health food store doesn't mean you're going to get something healthy. You've still got to read the labels because unwanted sugar can still sneak into your food, cleverly disguised under other names.

Here's a list of sweeteners:

cane juice crystals
corn syrup
high fructose corn syrup
evaporated cane juice
unbleached sugar cane
organic dehydrated cane juice
malted barley extract
brown rice syrup
sucrose
fructose

The thing is, once any form of sugar gets into the body, there is little difference in how the body uses it. Sugars are a kind of carbohydrate, which your body needs for energy.

When you eat foods that are mostly sugar, like soda and candy, they are absorbed quicker which causes your blood sugar levels to quickly rise, and then fall. When you eat whole foods like fruits, sugars are released slowly into the bloodstream.

Fit's Tips: If you're concerned about your sugar intake, and you don't want to bother with deciphering the ingredients, just look at the amount of sugars on the label.

A Low-Cal Happy Hour: Elderflower Gin Cordial

Michele Foley — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:25:00 PST

It may be my obsession with Downton Abbey and the BBC's Sherlock, but lately I've been craving classic English cocktails: gin and tonics, for example. The problem is, tonic water is not diet-friendly. Most store-bought brands contain corn syrup and just as many calories as a sugary soda.

This gin and tonic variation substitutes zero-calorie soda water for the tonic, and the splash of elderflower liqueur complements the juniper flavor of the gin, giving it a clean and refreshing finish. The next time you are in need of a G and T, opt for an elderflower gin cordial instead - it's free of corn syrup and falls under the 200-calorie mark.

Learn how to make this cocktail after the break!

Jillian Michaels's Top 5 Snack Picks

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:20:00 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Don't you ever wish you could take a peek in the pantry or gym of the fitness and diet pros you see on TV to see if they really practice what they preach? We do, too! That's why we asked Jillian Michaels, celebrity personal trainer, author, motivational expert, and soon-to-be mom (!), to share her top snack picks that keep her energy high on even the busiest of days.

"These snacks are quick, easy, and they all taste good. Plus they're preservative-free, contain no trans fats, MSG, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners," Michaels says.

Hummus and veggie sticks."This is an incredibly healthy snack that's filling and tasty," she says. The protein from the chickpeas in the hummus and the fiber from the veggies will keep you satisfied.

One hard-boiled egg and one piece of fruit. This combo offers an ideal proportion of healthy fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

Barbecue or sweet potato popchips. "A serving of popchips is packed with flavor and a great savory, salty crunch," Michaels raves, and the 100-calorie bags are handy for on-the-go eating.

Read on for the rest of Michaels's healthy snack picks!

More from Fitness:

The Secret to Jillian Michaels's Amazing Arms

Makeover Mania: the Best Celebrity Body Makeovers

The Top 10 Workout DVDs of 2011

4 More Facts You Don't Know About Calories

Prevention — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:08:37 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you'll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12 percent can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Last month, we shared some reasons you might be confused about calories - here are four more and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

1. Exercise makes you hungry
Though studies are mixed when it comes to whether exercise actually stimulates or suppresses appetite, many people think of working out as a way to eat whatever they like. "There’s definitely a mentality of 'I have sweated therefore I deserve,'" says Bonci. However, with most people burning about 100 calories per mile, a short workout won't give you a free pass to eat junk food. "If you walk two miles, eating a handful of chips post-workout can undo the calories you burned," says Bonci. As mentioned above, gym machines don’t accurately measure calories burned, either.

Stop the confusion: To stop an after-workout binge, fuel up pre-gym, Zied suggests. "Have something before - something with carbs and a little protein, like whole wheat toast and peanut butter or a banana and milk." Depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need something afterward as well. After a workout longer than 45 minutes, you should aim to eat about 200 calories.

Tips to Stop Overeating After Workouts

2. Liquid calories are ignored
"People are spending hundreds of calories on beverages each day," says Zied. Unfortunately, a lot of those calories are from sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, not milk and 100 percent fruit juice. According to a 2007 study, beverage intake accounted for roughly 12 percent of total calories in 1965 and steadily increased to 21 percent in 2002 - that's 222 extra calories a day from drinks alone! Because bottled drinks often contain multiple servings, it’s best to either pour a serving in a glass or look for mini soda cans and juice boxes.

Keep reading for more info about calories and weight loss after the break.