high-fructose corn syrup is a health food
I don’t know if you all noticed this comment to a blog entry a couple of weeks ago. Please inform us all of your opinon!
–Robyn
Hi my name is Liz and I work with the Corn Refiner’s Association. I wanted to share some infromation about High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Both sugar and high fructose corn syrup contain 4 calories per gram, and your body metabolizes them the same way. Like sugar or honey, high fructose corn syrup has calories. Excessive calories, from whatever source, can promote weight gain. But replacing high fructose corn syrup with sugar will not reduce obesity or improve health. They are the same.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently concluded that “…high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners…”
It can be confusing trying to buy the right foods for your family when there are so many choices and so little time. When reading food labels, you can have peace of mind in knowing that high fructose corn syrup is no different than sugar or honey – your body handles them the same way and they all have the same number of calories.
There’s a lot of solid research and information at http://www.SweetSurprise.com and http://www.HFCSFacts.com.
Thank you for your consideration.
I’m not a memeber of the AMA!
Thanks for bringing this comment to the top.
UUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! Health food my behind.
I will have to comment at another time….I am a bit frustrated by this post. Can ya tell?
This reminds me of another marketing scheme:
“No-Doz is as safe as coffee” is probably still posted on this legal ‘speed.’
There is some truth in Liz’s assertions, because even natural sugars contribute to negative health…so it would be better to reduce all sugars to the levels that our bodies can metabolize, and avoid concentrated and sythetic sweeteners which are likely to increase the craving for more.
Yeah, this propaganda disgusts me. Never mind that you’re chemically altering regular corn syrup, something that was never meant to be a “food” in the first place
Check out the “health effects” of the wikipedia page below, and notice the “the neutrality of this is disputed”, no doubt by the drive-by trolls that posted here and their cronies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup
How long will we allow big business to dictate what is healthy? And how long will the FDA be bought? And do they really think that people who DRINK PUREED SPINACH will be swayed by the propaganda? Sigh. Take your blood money over to the blog of someone who doesn’t know better. Or better, don’t, they might actually think you’re motivated by something other than lining your pockets and their guts (with fat and disease).
That is all.
It’s like the heroin trade selling itself, “It’s as safe as cocaine!”
Here are two funny youtube parodies:
Caution, both take the Lord’s name in vain, but no swearing; just be careful of little ears!
I agree with Lee’s post. All man altered and concentrated sugars should be avoided for optimum health. ALL.
But what about high glycemic food? Well ask a diabetic how many bananas it takes to spike his blood sugar. Or carrots, beets, oranges, watermelon, do you get the idea?
Sugars are a problem. But the real problem is eating too much. We consume too many calories. If you ate the healthiest most nutritious diet on the planet but you ate too much you would still be obese and unhealthy.
We are meant to gain weight. Fat storage is a good thing in a natural environment. In a purely natural environment people did not eat everyday. Their bodies need their fat storage to survive. The problem is we live in heated homes, drive cars, have every modern convenience. We don’t even burn the calories we do consume.
So what is the answer. Excersise, read Jack Lalanne’s website. Read his bio and tell me what you think is important. He is not a vegatarian but read about his physical feats. I would like to see anyone do the things he has done in this day and age.
http://www.jacklalanne.com/bio.htm
I don’t get it. I feel totally different when eating processed foods with high fructose corn syrup than I do eating food I make in my own kitchen with plain old white sugar and refined flour. Neither is good for you but I have to say I do not think that you can stretch the imagination far enough to say they affect the body in the same way. I mean, red wine is “good” for you too right? Or what about green tea, or diet soda? All these things have health benefits, you know. (I’m being sarcastic btw)
Who did she say she worked for?!?!?!?!? They don’t have anything to loose if we don’t consume corn syrup do they? Do you think they really have me and my families best interests at heart? Hmmmmm Follow the Money, Follow the Money, Follow the Money!
ALSO…..
Just a small FYI I’ll pose the question if you are interested you can research it yourself. Is it possible that High Fructose Corn Syrup does not stimulate the release of the appetite regulating hormone lepitin? The hormone that lets you know you are full. Could that be one of the reasons they put it in everything? Not because they want it to be sweet but because quite frankly you will eat more of their product. It was a very awakening thing when we were giving up refined sweeteners. Corn syrup was not just in our sweets it was in nearly EVERYTHING! Check out food labels you will see what I mean! It’s been quite interesting to me to find that now even though I still enjoy sweets (with unrefined sweeteners) I don’t over indulged like I used to. I’m satisfied! A little bit goes a long way where before I could never get enough. I’m pretty sure there is something to that! Have you noticed similar results? Maybe being an ingredient freak isn’t such a bad thing!!
Ha ha, Jack LaLanne! He reminds me of my GRANDMOTHER! She used to watch him on TV and do his exercise routines. What a stud. Isn’t he in his 90′s now? He recently swam some crazy-far distance with an anchor around his neck, I think.
So “Liz,” you’re hanging out on this site because…….
Oh, I get it. Even Satan himself leaves those in their “lost” state alone and harasses those who choose the narrow path. Why bother with those people who are knee deep in the mire (HFCS)?
I seriously doubt Liz is “hanging out” here. Here’s what I picture: Liz is hired fulltime by the corn syrup refiners’ association (she’s at least honest about that). She spends all day trawling the internet looking for any references to HFCS so she can do the PR job to keep us all eating it and feeding it to our kids en masse. When I blog something, those terms come up in the search engines.
This was the issue I was bringing up a few days ago . . . what we are willing to do for money. I don’t have the answers and don’t want to cast any stones, really. But it’s interesting to me to hear people say they promote something pretty dicey for a living . . . because it pays the bills. I bet a LOT of people in the pharmaceutical industry have serious qualms about what they are doing but have golden handcuffs on.
They have it in a new kids “healthy vitamin”. I can’t remember the name of it. I went to a Naturopathic Doctor whom I met at a natural health food store and we were talking about my son and I was buying him some vegan supplement. This was over a year ago before I found you! Anyway, she insisted I come to her office and I did. I knew more than she did about health and come to find out she was just pushing these vitamins that were “HEALTHY” (so she says) that the first ingredient was high fructose corn syrup. She was trying to get me to go to some convention. I was ticked because I paid her $150 for nothing. I should of cancelled the check. I refused to buy them or go to her convention when she was mascarading her credentials to push chemicals on people. I got pretty upset. She was suppose to get back to me on a few things and never called me back. What a con. Why mess with good old honey or agave or maple syrup or heck for sugar for that matter. Why add chemicals? No reason but greed. Good grief I can’t remember the name of them.
You’re right Robyn, Liz is probably not hanging out here (although I hope she is) and I agree with you that she probably spends her day promoting/salvaging the HFCS ‘reputation’ (and I hope that comes to end, for her sake).
The issue you were bringing up (what people will do for money) was the point I wanted to make – some people are willing to sell their souls for the dollar and use the excuse “it pays the bills.’ But so does prostitution.
Either way, you still have to be able to sleep at night. And I’m thinking Liz has seen enough bashing of HFCS to at least wonder to herself “what’s going here?” If she hasn’t yet, she will – if she keeps it up.
When I commented yesterday, I was (and still am) in the middle of reading “The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil” as well as “Chew on This” and reading this stuff elicits quite the aggrevation emotion at those who do put the dollar first, at all cost. (And then there’s “The China Study!”)
Even on Tuesday, Tonya commented on the people selling the cooking classes and overpricing dehydrators and blenders ….their motivation was obviously the dollar too. For those people who are gonna chase the dollar, even on the healthy side of things, they’ll have to figure it out.
For those who close their eyes to the sicknesses and diseases they play a part in promoting and continuing, I pray their conscious pricks them as they spend their days being a stalwart for the wrong side.
I also agree with Tonya’s comment the other day. I appreciate all you have provided here for the rest of us. I never expect you to do this for free and yet you spend an incredible amount of time putting such effort into helping the rest of us. You’ve provided reading material we can all find for free or nearly free (through our local libraries and inter-library loans); you’ve provided recipes through your postings and in those recommended books, if we can’t pay for your 12-Step e-book (by the way, that thing is appreciated alot!); you’ve blogged encouragement and hard won advice from your years of 60-80% raw and even the 100% times; and then I’m sure you’ve been inundated with personal e-mails on top of the blogging. The money you do earn from your site, group buys, e-books – is well deserved and “DW” could stand to take a lesson from you.
What is so sad to me, are the millions of people who still trudge along in their daily lives, wanting more and for whatever reason can’t find the exit out of the maze. Those that endeavor to keep people in the maze aggrevate me and then you have others who will show them the exit, but charge both arms and legs to “help” get them out. Where’s the compassion?
My own mother (most excellent woman), for a year ignored or played down my sister and her departure from processed foods. When Hurricane Ike nailed us, we went days without power. Since my husband and I had chosen safer ground by staying with my folks, we did what we could during the day (either clean-up, talk with neighbor’s, play games and read) and at night (read by lantern’s or flashlights and talk). I gave Mom my copy of Robyn’s 12-Step book and just said “read, I think you’ll find it interesting.” She finished all 9 chapters in one night and the next day. When the grocery stores finally opened, WE stood in line for 2 hours just to be the next group let in. We were one of only three buying fresh greens while all the rest literally raced for the chips, cokes, and everything else in the middle isles. Fast forward two months, and hear my mother tell the story of talking to a young really pitiful/unhealthy looking woman on the verge of tears walking up to my mother and telling her “your buggy (that’s a shopping cart in the south) looks BEAUTIFUL.” That led to an hour conversation and the woman putting some of her things back and switching gears right there. This on top of her sharing with those she comes in contact, the benefits of a green smoothie, etc.
I say all that for this reason: When you promote the right things (healthy choices) and don’t gouge people for that information, it has a domino effect and will benefit everybody. When you cast aside others for your own (financial) protection/gain, it kills those you cast aside and your benefits will be short lived. Money isn’t evil, the love of it is.
So for those pushing the HFCS, as we say here in the south, “get a rope.”
I don’t know how else to contact you…but I am trying to buy food storage of freeze dried fruits and vegs. Do you have a company to recommend? Please email me if you don’t mind. If anyone knows this answer, you will.
Thank you!!!!
Robyn, I rencently heard a lot of controversary about Agave. Will you blog sometime about what you know? have you looked into the other side—will you clear things up?!! thanks! (in your mind Best better good sweeteners when using them ALL sparingly)
Kind of late to point this out, but the ads promote HFCS as being no more harmful than everyday sugar. “In moderation.” But what the ads also fail to mention is that sugar is almost always on the ingredient list, in addition to HFCS- that can’t be good for kids. It’s certainly not good for their arguments.
Agave is from a plant and has to be refined to become a syrup. Agave is a refined sweetner. it’s a low glycemic food but can still raise your blood sugar. I think 3T of Agave is equivalent to 1 T sugar. It’s best to use fruit to sweeten your food.
As far as sweetners go, you can grow your own stevia in a pot or out in your yard. You can use dates (medjool are great) as well as raw local honey and plain ol’ fruit. I now use Agave sparingly compared to earlier in the year. I tend to use more fruit in my smoothies now to sweeten them. I find I have a lot more energy now. I love dates also in nut mylk smoothies. When I do use agave I use a raw agave from Madhava that is truly raw. I really like their product.
So just to be clear, her resources for “solid research and information” are two websites sponsored by the Corn Refiners Assoc.?
For future reference to Lisa, when I look for “solid research and information” the last place I look are those sources backed by the industry with a vested interest in the promotion of their substance over others.
While all refined sugars should be used in moderation, I’d rather use one that is simply clarified, dehydrated juice directly from a plant (cane sugar) than one that has to be forced into existence in chemical factories through multiple applications of a variety of enzymes and chemicals to parts of plants that have very likely been genetically modified (HFCS). Explain to me again how those are the same?
My husband and I recieved marketing material in the mail today targeted to physicians from the corn refiners association with an AMA, ADA, and FDA endorsements. I don’t have time to go through the pack in detail (right now), but looks very similar to the what’s been discussed above and the TV media campaign. I’ll hang on to it until I can go through it. I thought I’d let you know all physicians probably are recieving this same crap.
As for me I’ve HFCS free for a year!
I don’t agree that sugar and hfcs is the same because every time my little girl eats anything with hfcs in it 10min. later she has diarrhea in her diaper. I found that Aunt Millies Soft white does not contain hfcs in it.
High fructose corn syrup usually contains mercury.
LINK:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html
High fructose corn syrup is so processed it cannot be given the name “natural”.
Videos: