High Fructose Corn Syrup...What's the Real Deal?

There is a commercial ad on TV about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) vs. natural sweetners like honey, corn syrup, agave nectar, etc. One shows two women at a picnic, on a sunny day, kids running around happy and cheerful (because they are all on a SUGAR HIGH - lol). One woman is telling the other about there being no difference between HFCS and natural sweetners and stating how your body cannot tell the difference and that "sugar is sugar". I watched this commercial and honestly I'm amazed at how big businesses will do anything to make money and keep on making money. Let me tell you, there is a difference and yes, your body can tell what that difference is.

High fructose corn syrup comprises any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert its glucose into fructose to produce a desired sweetness. There are quite a few steps into making HFCS and they start with cornstarch. The cornstarch is broken down by adding an enzyme, alpha-amylase, which is derived from bacteria. Once that is broken down, a second enzyme, glucoamylase (enzyme derived from a fungus), is added. This continued fermentation converts into pure glucose. Then they take another enzyme, glucose-isomase, and pour the pure glucose mixture over the glucose-isomase, which converts the concoction into a combination of fructose and glucose, which is then refined to end up as high fructose corn syrup.

You would think that this is costly to produce, however, HFCS is cheaper than sugar and can be inexpensively shipped and stored. HFCS is used in everything from bread to pasta sauces to beer. It's even used in some 'health products' like protein/energy bars or 'natural' sodas. It's a win-win for the corn farmer and manufacturers and food processors because it retains moisture, prevents microbiological growth and blends easily with sweetners, acids and flavorings. It boils down to more money for big business but we ultimately lose in the end, with our health. However, big businesses are beginning to feel the 'pinch' from consumers because we are becoming wiser and more saavy with our health choices so they want to change the name to just CORN SYRUP to give us a feeling of 'well how bad can it be if it's made from corn?' Believe me, it's still not a good thing.

There is a lot of debate on whether HFCS is unhealthy and basically if you really look at the process I noted above, there isn't anything NATURAL about HFCS. Yes sugar is sugar however our bodies are highly intelligent 'machines'. Eating fruit which contains sugars can raise your blood sugar level however, this sugar is natural and more easily processed by our bodies than HFCS. When HFCS is consumed in high quantities, unused amounts are stored as fat cells. Also, the enzymes used to produce HFCS are not necessarily natural...at least we aren't sure they are. Eating a piece of fruit, that comes from the earth, is about as natural as you can get. There aren't any chemicals in fruit to contribute to altering your genetic make up or even to contribute to weight gain, which HFCS is linked to doing. The consumption of HFCS has been known and proven to contribute to the obesity and a host of other health-related issues like fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and many other issues.

So yes our bodies CAN tell the difference. Think about it: has anyone gained a ton of weight by eating fruit and drinking beverages that are naturally sweetened? No. It's when we introduce food and beverages that include HFCS, that our bodies begin to put weight on and experience a host of health-related issues.

Choose natural sweetners like honey, agave nectar, stevia for your food and beverages. Even fruit juices contain a ton of sugars so be careful when consuming. For all my soda drinkers, try to ween yourself off by introducing more water into your diet. Oh and if you're thinking of switching to diet sodas/juices because they are sweetened with artificial sweetners well they aren't necessarily a better choice. Artificial sweetners have chemically altered ingredients as well and in the long run can also contribute to increasing many health-related issues. So do your best to first cut down and eventually cut out from your diet. And read labels! Anything that lists HFCS or corn syrup as a sweetner, put it back on the shelf-smile.

Being healthy or healthier takes work and there is a lot of confusion with what's good and what's not good. But I keep it simple by remembering anything NATURAL and from the earth is always GOOD for you.

Be well and eat healthy!

What You Think and Feel is What You Eat

I'm entering my third month in school (The Integrative Institute of Nutrition) and in these three months, I've learned a wealth of information. You would think it would be all about food, eating healthy, nutrition but there is so much more...so much more.

The fact that our Life - how we live it, enjoy it or not, how happy we are with it - ultimately affects and defines our food choices. Period. Now, this is not rocket science but when you are asked to look at your own life and reflect on how things are going, you begin to make the connection to how and what you are eating.

One of the benefits of attending this school is having my own health counselor. She is really great at what she does and has allowed me to look at more than what I'm eating but to look at how I'm feeling at any given time, what I'm thinking, etc. I am learning how to assist people in doing the same and while doing quite a few health history consultations of my own with friends, I've gained a lot of insight into how experiences in your Life can affect what you think and how you feel about food. Knowing that I will help others to be able to become aware of their thoughts and reflect on their lives in order to help them make healthier food choices, is such a rewarding feeling.

For me I realized that when I'm really busy with work and Life in general, I tend to crave sugar more. Specifically, I crave chocolate more and I always knew this but to really look at when I'm very busy and maybe stressed and become aware of why is the key to helping me make a better food choice when experiencing these feelings. You see it's not about NOT feeling what you feel, it's more about managing the feelings or thoughts, recognizing what's triggering it and not succumbing to the usual habit of grabbing those chips or box of cookies. It's about better food choices, which leads to weight loss and a healthier diet overall.

This is what I'm learning and will be offering people I eventually will be counseling/coaching. To be able to have or rather, realize, this 'power' within has made such a huge impact in my life. I challenge you to reflect on your Life and take a look at what creates stress or uncomfortable feelings. What in your life could be better so that you don't just grab that fast food burger or bag of chips; are you aware of the thoughts or situations that bring you to that point? Take one day and write down what and how you feel and the food choices you've made for the day. See how the 'bad' or not so healthy food choices correlate to your thoughts and feelings. Once you become aware, you can begin to make better food choices to live a healthier lifestyle. And if you need help with navigating all of that, email me (landr70255@aol.com). I can coach you through it. (smile)

Eat well and be well!