Nutrition Frenzy

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

Americans consume more High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) than table sugar. Not hard to believe, considering a single, 12 oz can of soda has as much as 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.

“But, I don’t drink soda,” you say. Well, read on, because even if you make healthy eating a priority in your life, chances are you or your children are still eating some heinous High-Fructose.

IS HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP LIKE FRUIT?

It’s definitely got a ring to it - it is the “fructose” part, right? Makes it sound like fruit-syrup? You must remember HFCS is NOT fruit or derived from fruit, it is not even natural!

Instead, HFCS is a thick liquid manufactured from corn starch and contains two sugar building blocks: fructose (about 55%) and glucose (about 45%). HFCS is treated with enzymes (often genetically modified enzymes, which is scary in itself), that convert glucose to fructose, which make the final product even sweeter than sugar.

WHY IS HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP WORSE THAN REGULAR SUGAR?

The impact on your body from HFCS is even worse than from regular sugar. Experts argue about exactly why this is the case. Some point to the difference in fructose content between the two: HFCS is 55% fructose, 45% glucose, while table sugar is 50% glucose and 50% sucrose.

Although it seems like a measly 5% more fructose in HFCS couldn’t make that much difference, at this point it’s the most concrete reason the science guys have given. In any case, what is most important for you to know is that HFCS messes with you.

Here’s how:

HFCS actually causes an alteration in the body’s metabolic /body weight-regulating hormones Leptin and Ghrelin. Say you eat a food that has no HFCS, your body turns ON the production of Leptin which gives a shout out to the brain –“OKAY! STOP EATING – WE ARE GETTING FAT ENOUGH!” A meal with no HFCS also suppresses Ghrelin, a hormone that says, “STILL HUNGRY! LET’S PIG OUT!”

Okay, now to the bowl of Kellogg’s All-Bran you just ate that contains HFCS (yup, your bowl of “healthy” bran branches has got it) and your tall glass of Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail (HFCS!) With this type of meal, your brain doesn’t turn on Leptin that tells you “Stop! The tank is full !” And, Ghrelin isn’t suppressed, it keeps saying “Chow ON baby!”

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Besides warping our hormones and causing us to gain weight, HFCS also makes us store more weight as fat which leads to problems beyond our waistlines. Studies show the liver reacts to HFCS by kicking out more fat into the bloodstream- the result being higher blood triglycerides.

WHY IS THIS JUNK IN MY FOOD?

Money honey. Although processing HFCS is an involved process it is still a cheaper sweetener than sugar and is easy to transport. This means manufacturers have lower costs and higher profits. Simple and sad.

I’M AFRAID TO ASK: WHERE IS HFCS HIDING?
-Soda
-Frozen Foods
-Breads
-Mufffins (Even English Muffs!)
-Hot Dog/ Hamburger Buns
-Ketchup
-Applesauce
-So-called “health-foods” like Slim Fast
-Low-Fat Yogurt

ARE YOU JOKING? IT’S IN MY DAMN YOGURT TOO?!?!?

This one really bugs - I am SUPREMELY annoyed every time I see fitness trainer Bob Green (of the Best Life Diet) endorse Yoplait yogurt. Check the label on your Lo-Yo’ folks, ‘cause it’s in there.

Bob also gives the thumbs-up to Slim Fast. All I can say is, read the labels on what you eat – don’t just blindly put faith in guys like Bob (an exercise physiologist, not a nutritionist). While you’re obediently eating one of “his” products, he’s probably standing on the beach in Hawaii doing the Rolex Dance.

As always, YOU are the one driving the Food Train. Take a few minutes to make sure what you eat isn’t tricking your body into eating more and more of the things that make us fat and sick.

Come on! Drive the Train!