high fructose corn syrup

[SandrA9810]

There's so many things that I know I should do... and I just never apply it.

I totally agree that food producers should stop using so much HFCS. If cigs can go up to twice or more the price, and people still buy them, then people will still buy their favorite foods.

 

[manning]

Research has shown that "high-fructose corn syrup" goes directly to the liver, releasing enzymes that instruct the body to then store fat!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

OK so here's the thing, I wondered this too. Luckily, in my textbook for cell biology, it explained something about HFCS while we were talking about carbohydrates.

HFCS is a polysaccharide, fructose and glucose combo, alter to have a higher amount of fructose which is then added to corn syrup. Basically, it's very processed. The reason why it's often considered so bad for you is not from hard facts. It became widely used roughly around the time obesity began to drastically rise, in the 1980s. Various studies have lead to the belief that this IS because of HFCS.

Will it kill you? Probably not. Should you eat it? Probably not.

Anyway, soda with real sugar in it, like cane sugar, is so much better anyway.

Also, like trans fats, HFCS is so widely used because it's so much cheaper to use than real sugar. And it's sweeter. Trans fats have a longer shelf life.

 

[Had2stopLurking]

As someone who eats pretty healthy but doesn't check labels, I think the problem is that people don't allow their children to eat anything other than processed crap all the time.

How many times have we seen questions about "should I put my 6-12 year old in a stroller" on here? (um, no, let them get up and exercise)

How many times have we seen "Oh, we only eat like that on vacation" posts? (sorry, if you only eat like that one week out of the year, your body would reject it and you'd have some serious stomach pains, so I'm not buying that)

How many times have we seen posts about "we eat healthy at home, but it's vacation"? You can still eat healthy on vacation.

How many times have we seen posts that state "my child will only eat chicken nuggets"? (sorry, you (general you) failed by not introducing other foods earlier)

I don't think HFCS is the issue. The issue is that people don't exercise and allow their children to sit in strollers to go places because they feel their vacation might be hindered by a child that gets tired. I have to ask, who is the vacation for at that point? If you are going at the child's pace, then any child over 3 shouldn't need a stroller.

I personally think HFCS is not the problem. The problem is that parents that don't want to actually exercise is the issue.

I weigh less than 110 and have never had to watch my HFCS intake. I've also never seen a study in a credible published journal that says it does.

In addition, I've never seen a study where HFCS makes many kids go on a rage. I'm thinking there are other underlying issues there; but, my degree in psychology may be trumped by lack of evidence on that issue, as modern education isn't the way to go????

Just amazing to me the things people will blame for their lack of decent choices.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Youg have some good points and insight.


for those that are concerned about HFCS....


I would point out that RUM dosn't have HFCS!!!

enjoy!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

In the USA I took the approach that many here do of trying to avoid HFCS much of the time but not getting rid of it all together--moderation and all that. It was HARD to eat it in moderation given how many products it was in though. We made most of our own bread and that helped quite a bit.
I will say we notice a huge difference now living in Germany (where HFCS is either banned or strictly regulated--I am not sure which). When we were back in the USA things tasted too sweet to us (and we all have sweet tooths) and veggies and fruits seemed mostly tasteless (so those were not sweet--just flavourless). We occasionally have a treat bought for us on base and the same thing happens. We like it and it is nice to have something we cannot normally have but we seem to have lost the taste for the sweeteners used in the US and they do not taste as good as before and actually taste a little off, even to the kids.
I have not noticed food prices being higher here in spite of the lack of HFCS additives. Soda might ba little higher--we genrally pay 85 Euro cents (so about $1) for a liter bottle. You never see two liter bottles here so I cannot compare apples to apples there. The half liter bottles also run about the same at convience stores--which is in line with what I recall them costing in the US, if not a bit cheaper.

I keep forgetting!

DH has a friend who is a "Coke fiend" LOL. He is a big collector of CocaCola stuff.

DH had him look at the ingredients on the collected (unopened as well) cans from the 80s. Joe found that the cans of Coke BEFORE New Coke had cane sugar. Those cans are from the time that I would have a Snickers and a Coke for lunch, and would LOSE weight. The cans of "Classic" Coke, which were said to be the OLD formula after New Coke was so hated, were sweetened with HFCS.

I really hate conspiracy nonsense, but it certainly does *seem* that Coke wanted to change to the cheaper sweetener, knew that there was a taste difference, and came up with the period of New Coke in order for people to forget the taste of real Coke...

I am not generally a conspiracy theorist either but I have believed this was a marketing move on Coke's part for years and years.

My FIL is a dentist. He said that when flouride use became common the instance of cavities disappeared. When HFCS start becoming super common the amount of cavities skyrockted. Since our water is not flourinated I decided to take HFCS out of our house and see what happened. I noticed 2 things. 1.) W/O any other changes I lost 20 pounds. I ate all the same foods, just found HFCS free alternatives. 2.) My daughter who had regular cavities has not had a cavity since. (It's been almost 2 years.)

I have also noticed in the last year or so that companies are switching back to real sugar. Lots of the foods that I had banned now do not have HFCS in them.

How interesting. DD brushes very carefully, but she always ended up with cavities anyway. She has not had any since we got here. I'll have to see if the trend continues

 

[PollyannaMom]

A few people have mentioned buying different bread to avoid HFCS, and that's one of the foods I've not been able to switch yet. (I have successfully switched ketchup, and not-quite-so-successfully maple syrup.)

Anyway, we currently eat a store brand whole wheat, which does have some HFCS in it, but I've tried 3 other breads without it, and DS hates them all! It seems all the good ones contain big bits of added stuff - more multi-grain than just whole wheat. (And I don't just mean they're including all parts of the wheat, and it's a little grainier - I mean like throwing in sunflower kernals to make it stand out to shoppers. Yummy to me as a grown-up, but "disgusting" texture-wise to a kid.)

So, if you've switched, what brand(s) do you buy?

 

[buckler]

So, if you've switched, what brand(s) do you buy?

We eat Nature's Own bread made with organic whole wheat flour. It is sweetened with brown sugar and raisin juice concentrate for the 100% whole wheat variety. There is also a honey wheat variety with added honey. All Nature's Own varieties are HFCS free. I buy it at the bakery outlet so I usually don't pay more than $1.50 a loaf (less if they have a special sale). I have kids and they like it.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I wouldn't worry about what a very few posters on the Dis say. My doctor says it's fine for you though to try to limit how much you eat. This can be hard but I have found if I cut down on soda and eat less processed foods then I am ok.

Though I will say personally...I do prefer soda sweetened with sugar, though that can be hard to find.

I would agree. The problem is that it is hard to find products without the stuff. It is in everything. I don't think it is a demon, but I don't think the body deals with it in the same way it does sugar. We dring Jones soda, and love when the Kosher and Throwbacks are available.

 

[lemondog]

A few people have mentioned buying different bread to avoid HFCS, and that's one of the foods I've not been able to switch yet. (I have successfully switched ketchup, and not-quite-so-successfully maple syrup.)

Anyway, we currently eat a store brand whole wheat, which does have some HFCS in it, but I've tried 3 other breads without it, and DS hates them all! It seems all the good ones contain big bits of added stuff - more multi-grain than just whole wheat. (And I don't just mean they're including all parts of the wheat, and it's a little grainier - I mean like throwing in sunflower kernals to make it stand out to shoppers. Yummy to me as a grown-up, but "disgusting" texture-wise to a kid.)

So, if you've switched, what brand(s) do you buy?

Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat

 

[dawson5]

I keep forgetting!

DH has a friend who is a "Coke fiend" LOL. He is a big collector of CocaCola stuff.

DH had him look at the ingredients on the collected (unopened as well) cans from the 80s. Joe found that the cans of Coke BEFORE New Coke had cane sugar. Those cans are from the time that I would have a Snickers and a Coke for lunch, and would LOSE weight. The cans of "Classic" Coke, which were said to be the OLD formula after New Coke was so hated, were sweetened with HFCS.

I really hate conspiracy nonsense, but it certainly does *seem* that Coke wanted to change to the cheaper sweetener, knew that there was a taste difference, and came up with the period of New Coke in order for people to forget the taste of real Coke...

This brings to mind the difference in taste of canned/bottled coke to fountain coke. I wonder if the boxes for the fountain had sugar and not the HFCS. I always noticed a difference, always preferred the fountain soda. I personally haven't had fountain soda in years, so I don't know if this still holds true.

These companies are also promoting "made with cane sugar" editions of their products for a limited time. I just think to myself "why not go back to using it?"

Oh yes, because if they used REAL sugar the price of soda would rise. As opposed to HFCS which is used because it's cheap. Cheap and easy. Cheap and sleazy.

However, if the prices of Coke were to rise, maybe people would begin to think twice about buying junk foods.

But then again, ciggarette prices have been raised and taxed and people still buy them. Oh well.

Family owns an ice cream shop, I worked at it until I was 22. One of the biggest profits is from the soda fountain. The cup, lid and straw cost more than the product itself. In the late 80's--early 90's, we were told that those cost about .10c and the soda was less than that. I can see it costing more, but not enough to make it unreasonable. I would bet they could keep it the same cost and still make a profit, probably just not as much--that won't happen though.

That being said, we rarely buy soda around here.

 

[clutter]

Nature's Own Whitewheat is also HCFS free. As is Prego Spaghetti sauce.

 

[Geoff_M]

Here's the full paper
http://www.foodpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/HFCS_Rats_10.pdf

Thanks, that answers my question and helps drive home the point. The study also shows, to no real surprise, that the over consumption of "real sugar" leads to obesity too. Let's also look at the study's final conclusion section (emphasis mine):

5. Conclusion
In summary, rats maintained on a diet rich in HFCS for 6 or 7 months show abnormal weight gain, increased circulating TG and augmented fat deposition. All of these factors indicate obesity. Thus, over-consumption of HFCS could very well be a major factor in the “obesity epidemic,” which correlates with the upsurge in the use of HFCS.

The "over consumption" qualifier in the findings isn't an accident. The only real question is: "Does the binge eating of HFCS sweetened foods make you more obese than the binge eating of cane-based sugar sweetened foods?" The study doesn't claim that it's the mere presence of HFCS that triggers the obesity in the rats, as all groups got "fat" on their diets (even those just eating Rat Chow). The common link is "over consumption"... and that was my initial point. They could have also said in their conclusion that "The over-consumption of cane sugar could very well be a major factor in the 'obesity epidemic'" and their data would have supported that claim too.

The problem is when people treat foods or ingredients as inherently "bad" vs. "good". I'd like to see them re-do that rat study and put the groups on diets that contain a "normal" caloric intake feedings instead of allowing them to gorge themselves for 6, 12 or 24 hours a day. I think you'd likely see those statistical differences effectively disappear.

I'm not here to say that HFCS is bio-equivalent to cane sugar, as it's clearly not. I just don't understand the fact that some people treat it like it's dioxin.

But it's easy and understandable to want to pin problems on simple causes, particularly ones that can point to others. The childhood obesity problem due to increased caloric intake in kids?... Due to dietary changes that more rely on foods high in fat and sweeteners (of ALL types) foods?... Due to decreasing levels of exercise in the population of children? Nah, the major factor is ADM and their blasted HFCS!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I avoid HFCS whenever possible!!!!

 

[FireDancer]

We all make choices for our bodies and our children's bodies. I don't think it is evil but it is in EVERYTHING so saying "eat it in moderation" can be hard. It is in spaghetti sauce! It is hidden in many things you would never suspect so it isn't as simple as drinking sodas in moderation or having a popsicle only twice a week.

I try to avoid it and go with more natural foods. If you want to eat it, go for it.

This is my take on it. It has been years since I have purchased any product with HFCS in it because I read the labels and put it back if it is listed anywhere on it. I try to avoid anything that comes from a chemistry lab instead of nature but to each their own. For what it is worth I also consume very little sucrose and no artificial sweeteners when it is possible to avoid them. Sometimes in a restaurant you never really know. I get the vast majority of sugar in the form of fruit.

I really don't care what other people consume, it isn't my body.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I personally avoid HFCS as it gives me horrible migraines even in small amounts (as I try to eat as much as I can not processed). I suggest reading Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels. It's a very interesting read about how chemicals, HFCS, and other things we eat and drink effect our entire body and what it does to all the different hormones and systems in our bodies.

I don't care what other people choose to eat or do to their own bodies at all. Everyone chooses what they do or do not believe in and I'm certainly not going to debate or try to make everyone in the World see things my way.

One of the things that really made me think about HFCS and the chemicals that are used to grow and make our food/drinks is that people have not been consuming them the way that they have until the last 10-15 years (not that people weren't consuming these things since the 1970's but no where near in the quantities we are today) and there's no way to tell what kind of long term effect people are going to have later in life by eating/drinking this way. That's what worries me (my concerns are more from a cancer stand-point than an obese one).

I read all labels and if there's HFCS or a bunch of chemicals I can't pronounce I put it back. I buy Arnold or Ezekiel bread and Thomas bagels. I buy HFCS free salad dressing, mayo, pickles, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, frozen yogurt, regular yogurt, chocolate milk, crackers, etc. It is in everything!

 

[Colleen27]

I'm one that avoids it, and I'll be the first to admit the science isn't yet conclusive. The recent Princeton study was interesting (http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/), as was the report of contamination with mercury (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html). More generally, there are some comparisons of fructose (regardless of source) vs glucose, the different ways they are metabolized and the associated health effects (http://www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/news/20090421/fresh-take-on-fructose-vs-glucose).

But there's no "smoking gun" so to speak, and my decision to avoid it for my family is rooted more in common sense and gut reaction than anything else. The obesity "epedemic" hit on the heels of the widespread adoption of HFCS in place of sugar. That's a heck of a coincidence. And it is added now to things that don't need the sweeteners because it also prolongs shelf-life. I don't think we need all the excess sweeteners, period, and I don't think that chemically tinkering around with our food is a very good idea to begin with.

That said, I'm not a fanatic. I don't screen the kids' Halloween candy or refuse to let them have cake & soda at a birthday party. I don't think it is so dangerous that it is worth taking to that extreme. I don't buy products containing HFCS, which means the kids aren't eating them day in and day out. The occasional indulgence in a store bought cake or a Coke at a restaurant isn't going to doom them to obesity and metabolic diseases.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I have also eliminated HFCS from my grocery list. You do have to read labels or shop brands (like Newman's, etc) or stores (like Trader Joe's) where they don't use HFCS or hydrogenated fats.

My kids do have treats on occasion but not every day. If we are out and someone serves them something that I know or suspect has these ingredients, then I let them have it since 95% of everything else they eat is natural.

Honestly, once you do eliminate it you get used to food being less sweet but more flavorful. And when you try it again, it just doesn't taste good anymore.

Again, my choice for my family. My kids are very healthy, love fruit, have TONS of energy and sleep great at night. Based on all this, I am very happy with my decision to eliminate altered ingredients.

 

[MosMom]

That said, I'm not a fanatic. I don't screen the kids' Halloween candy or refuse to let them have cake & soda at a birthday party. I don't think it is so dangerous that it is worth taking to that extreme. I don't buy products containing HFCS, which means the kids aren't eating them day in and day out. The occasional indulgence in a store bought cake or a Coke at a restaurant isn't going to doom them to obesity and metabolic diseases.

Precisely. If we aren't getting it all day, everyday in the "good" foods, we are truly having it in moderation when it is treat time.

 

[Colleen27]

These companies are also promoting "made with cane sugar" editions of their products for a limited time. I just think to myself "why not go back to using it?"

Oh yes, because if they used REAL sugar the price of soda would rise. As opposed to HFCS which is used because it's cheap. Cheap and easy. Cheap and sleazy.

The Pepsi products are a test marketing product. If the demand is there, they will probably become permanent. But yeah, the root cause of the switch to HFCS is economic - corn is heavily subsidized and thus much cheaper even in its most highly processed forms than cane or beet sugar (which is really fun to make BTW - my kids & I did that experiment last summer).