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Corn Syrup
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High-Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to High Blood Pressure
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.
Does It or Doesn't It Contain Corn Syrup?
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.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Sugar
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.
King Corn: A Food Documentary to Watch
"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.
Sugar By Any Other Name
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.
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The Skinny On: High Fructose Corn Syrup
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.
More on High Fructose Corn Syrup
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.
Fittingly Mad: Cool Whip Free
It was a hot day and I found myself grocery shopping. When I am with my girls, even when they are behaving themselves, I employ the "get in, get out" strategy: Take a grocery list, shop the perimeter, placate with a bagel when necessary, pay for the food and get out of the store. It was a hot day, so the three of us lingered, a little too long, in the frozen food section.
Fittingly Mad: "Natural" Foods That Really Aren't
Starting this month, Pepsi is rolling out a new drink called Pepsi Natural that's made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The soda company is touting the drink's "all-natural ingredients," including natural caramel and kola nut extract; the glass bottles will even be stocked in natural foods aisles.
Despite the ads from the Corn Refiners Association trying to position HFCS as a "sweet surprise," the New York Times reports that more and more brands are using real sugar as a selling point.
Health Foods That Aren't So Healthy
It seems like every food company is getting on the health kick these days. They're advertising products that are "made with whole grains," or "low in sugar," or "fat-free." It's easy to believe the printing on the packages, but I'm sorry to tell you that food companies are using all their marketing resources to sway you to buy their product.
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