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

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

King Corn Trailer

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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.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Stupid, Omega-3s Make You Smart

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:56:36 PDT

As if you needed another reminder to stop eating processed foods: a new study has found that foods high in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can make you stupid. But there's good news, too: eating foods high in omega-3s can help combat loss of brain function.

The study looked at different groups of rats that had been trained on a maze. After a few days on the maze, some of the rats were fed an HFCS-sweetened solution as their drinking water for six weeks, with some also receiving a diet high in omega-3s. After the diet, the rats were tested on how well they could recall the maze. The researchers found that the rats who ate the omega-3 diet were faster at completing the maze than the other rats, whether or not they were also given HFCS. Not only that, but the rats given the HFCS and not omega-3s were the slowest at completing the maze, and their brains showed a decline in activity and memory function.

This latest lab study is yet more evidence that processed foods can mess with our minds (other studies, for example, have linked fast food to depression) and that a diet high in omega-3s can help protect your brain from aging and mental decline. Ready to swap that fast-food burger for a mind-sharpening meal instead? Here's a list of vegan sources of omega-3s and five staples of the omega-3-rich Mediterranean diet.

Shake Things Up: Healthy Premade Cocktail Mixes That Actually Taste Good

Michele Foley — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:24:56 PDT

A good handmade cocktail is a thing of beauty, but it's not practical when you're hosting a large party, going camping, or heading to the park for a picnic. But let's be honest: most premade mixes are pretty gross. Made largely of high-fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients, they're an easy way to waste calories - and good liquor. If you can't have it fresh, then choose one of these store-bought cocktail mixes for your next get-together. Whether you want a mojito or a margarita, there's a healthier version for everyone.

Source: Thinkstock

How to Splurge This Weekend Without Gaining a Pound

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:49:28 PDT

For many who have stuck to their healthy ways all week long, the weekend is a time to loosen up the reigns a little, ignore weight-loss rules, and indulge in some high-calorie Cinco de Mayo goodness. If you're not careful though, an entire weekend of living it up could make you gain the pounds you've worked so hard to keep off all week. Here are some ways to splurge a little this weekend and not feel guilty on Monday morning.

Sip on this: If you're starting the Cinco de Mayo festivities a little early tonight, pass on the margaritas made with premade sugary mix and go for a glass made with real lime juice and a splash of simple syrup to save calories (opt for no salt on the rim). Or you can skip the margarita altogether and whip up a batch of this low-cal sangria-inspired cocktail made with heart-healthy red wine, unfiltered cranberry juice, and fresh strawberry puree.
Skip this calorie-loaded app: Ordering an enormous plate of nachos topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, seasoned ground beef, and avocado means devouring a huge amount of calories before your entrée even arrives. Start with a small taco salad instead made with fresh greens, peppers, tomatoes, corn, black beans, a few crushed tortilla chips, and sprinkled with an avocado vinaigrette.

Keep reading for more calorie-saving tips.