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?

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.

Another Reason to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup: Mercury

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:00:00 PST

The Corn Refiners Association has been hard at work trying to change our perceptions about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), but they may have a new public relations battle on their hands. Two new US reports found mercury in both commercial samples of HFCS and products that listed high fructose corn syrup as the first or second ingredient.

Almost half the commercial samples of the corn sweetener tested positive for mercury, and almost a third of the tested food and beverage products contained detectable levels of the heavy metal as well. The products include beverages and foods manufactured by Quaker, Hershey's, Kraft, and Smucker's. The highest levels of mercury were detected in dairy beverages like chocolate milk, dressings, and condiments (BBQ sauce), followed by snacks and desserts, including cereal bars.

To see how mercury ended up in this corn-derived sweetener,

read more. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can lead to organ and heart damage, as well as impair the immune and nervous systems. While high mercury levels have been associated with eating too much of certain kinds of fish, like in Jeremy Piven's case, finding mercury in HFCS is a bit startling for the average consumer. The mercury found in HFCS is a byproduct of the caustic soda used, among other applications, to separate the starch from the corn kernel. While many processing plants that manufacture this industrial soda have altered their methods to eliminate the use of mercury, four plants in the US still employ the old mercury-based technology. If you already avoid HFCS, this is no time to stop. Keep reading labels and be sure to visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to read their very detailed report on this matter. Source

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

More on High Fructose Corn Syrup

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT

The ads promoting high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that are airing on TV irritate me to no end and I know they bother a few of you as well. The controversy surrounding the ad campaign, which is estimated to cost around $20 to $30 million, continues to grow. The basic premise of the ads is that HFCS is natural since it is made from corn (they don't mention how processed the syrup truly is) and that it is just like sugar. The ads aim to make you feel like a paranoid health freak for avoiding the corn sweetener, but CBS News decided to do a little research of their own on the scientific research behind the ads. What they found is unsurprising and not so sweet.

Six studies are cited on Sweet Surprise ads sponsored by the Corn Refiners Association. Three of the studies were funded by companies involved in the industry: Pepsi Co., the American Beverage Association, and a food, chemical and drug company lobbying group. Two of the studies were never published, so the funding is not public record. The last study was funded by a Dutch company with ties to the sugar industry. Children’s Hospital Boston researched the conclusions of nutrition studies and found that the outcomes of these studies were four to eight times more likely to be favorable towards that funding company. It seems that scientific conclusion can unfortunately be bought and sold.

To see a few facts about HFCS from independent research, just

read more. The Center for Science in the Public Interest funded a four-year study on soft drink consumption. Soft drinks are how the majority of Americans consume ~~mainline~~ HFCS. Soda, it turns out, contributes to the rise in obesity due to the large amount of non-nutritious calories in the beverage. Other studies have indicated that appetite, which decreases after eating, actually decreases less when drinking fructose sweetened beverages, which leads to eating more. The ultimate take home message, is not the debate that HFCS is just like sugar, but that we should all avoid consuming large quantities of empty calories. For a little more science on the subject check out this video spoof of the pro HFCS popsicle ad. Source

The Skinny On: High Fructose Corn Syrup

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:30:00 PDT

When I started reading food labels, way back when, I must admit that I thought high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was made out of fruit, because of the "fructose," as well as corn. Now that I have been schooled over the years, I know that this sweetener is made from cornstarch that goes through a serious amount of processing.

The Corn Refiners Association has started the sweet surprise ad campaign to try to reclaim consumers' hearts and dollars. Corn and all its permutations have been getting a bad rap of late, from sources like the documentary King Corn and Michael Pollan's treatise on eating In Defense of Food. The parallel growth of HFCS consumption and the obesity epidemic is the stuff from which seemingly correct, but nevertheless faulty armchair science is formed. Recent studies have found that HFCS as an ingredient isn't solely to blame for the obesity epidemic, since the human body processes HFCS and sugar in the same way and that they have the same caloric load.

To see how high fructose corn syrup differs from sugar, just

read more. The truth is though that HFCS is not chemically the same as sugar. Sugar is sucrose and HFCS is made from glucose and fructose, but not a single molecule of sucrose. Fructose turns into fat in the liver, which is not healthy because it is not broken down earlier in the digestion process. Fructose has a negative impact on insulin and the hunger hormone leptin creating increased appetite. Even though HFCS is made from cornstarch degraded into glucose by using chemicals or enzymes degraded, then altered again with enzymes to convert fractions of glucose into fructose, it can still be labeled natural according to the FDA. This is as long as no synthetic fixing agents touch the sweet syrup in the manufacturing process. The truth is that even after all that ecologically devastating processing, HFCS is cheaper to produce than sugar. In fact, the average American consumes 78 pounds of it a year and 500 of it calories a day. Cheap processed ingredients make inexpensive processed foods, and because they are cheap, widely available, with long shelf lives, more and more processed food is eaten. Leading to overeating foods that don't offer much nutritionally. Once again, moderation is the key when it comes to any sweetener, processed or natural. Just like they say in those sweet surprise ads. If you need some corn in your life, why not just eat straight off the cob? Source

Speak Up: Are You Surprised by the Sweet Surprise Ads?

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:00 PDT

The Corn Refiners Association is fighting back. They are sick and tired of their favorite ingredient high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being maligned by the liberal press. They have hired a PR agent and an ad team to teach you that HFCS is not only good for you, it is natural as well. The first time I saw this ad, my jaw dropped to the floor. This over simplification of this very processed sweetener was quite a shock to me.

I guess you can tell how I feel about these ads, but what about you. Tell me, are you surprised by these ads? Do they confuse you? Anger you? Entertain you? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

If you want to see the Sweet Surprise print ad and another TV commercial, then just

Is Agave Nectar Healthier Than Sugar?

FitSugar — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:53:35 PDT

Recently I asked FitSugar readers to share their tips on how to cut down on their sugar intake, and it sparked a whole discussion in the comment section about using agave nectar. Some said it's a natural sweetener which makes it healthier than sugar, and others debated against that idea, saying it is highly processed and just as bad as high fructose corn syrup. So what's the truth?

To see if it's healthier than sugar

read more. As you can see from the chart below, they're pretty similar nutrition-wise. What you can't tell from the comparison is how the body processes and reacts to each. Agave is praised for being low on the glycemic index (GI) rating, which means it won't cause a spike in your blood sugar levels the way sugar does. High-GI foods like white sugar tend to make us feel hungry sooner since they are digested quickly. So foods made with agave nectar may keep you feeling fuller longer than foods made with the white stuff, which translates to eating less.

	One tbsp sugar	One tbsp. agave nectar
Calories	46	60
Total Fat	0	0
Carbs	12	16
Fiber	0	1
Sugar	12	15
Protein	0	0

But many brands of agave nectar are highly refined, containing almost 100 percent fructose, which is a higher percentage than that found in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Fructose is a sweetener known to raise triglycerides, promote belly fat, and contribute to fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Another thing to note is that some distributors of agave nectar have been labeling HFCS as agave nectar, so the FDA recommends looking for labels that say "hydrolyzed inulin syrup," which means it's real agave. Although both sugar and agave nectar come from plants, both are sweeteners and provide little to no nutrition value. I know it's not what you want to hear, but sweeteners like these should be used sparingly in your diet. If you're having a sugar craving, you're better off reaching for a piece of fruit since the fiber will help with digestion and satiate your hunger.

Coke Launches New 90-Calorie Mini Can

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:35 PDT

Coca-Cola is giving consumers even more ways to manage their calories with the introduction of its new 7.5 oz. mini can. The 90-calorie can will be released in select East Coast cities this December, with a nationwide rollout set for 2010.

“As the world’s largest beverage company, we take seriously the need to help consumers balance calories consumed with calories expended,” said Sandy Douglas, president, Coca-Cola North America. “The Coca-Cola mini can innovation reinforces the Company’s support for healthy, active lifestyles.”

This announcement is coming on the heels of the company's move to put calorie information of the front of all its packaging. They've also partnered with Healthy Weight Commitment, a group of retailers and food manufacturers committed to reducing obesity in America.

By all accounts it sounds like the soda giant is becoming quite concerned over the nation's growing waistline and its contribution to it. But some argue the company is trying to skirt the impending soda tax. Don't be fooled by the small packaging, the recipe remains unchanged and is still filled with HFCS, but may be a good option for consumers who keep tabs on calories.

Coca-Cola will also be offering the mini cans in Sprite, Fanta Orange, Cherry Coca-Cola and Barq's Root Beer.