What is this mysterious HFCS?
JennyGetsFit
Posts: 263 Member
One rainy Saturday my husband and I were caught in the rain and went to the Dunkin Doughnuts that was separated only by a glass window from the hallway leading to the adjacent Pathmark supermarket. As we were sitting drinking our coffee the people with full shopping cards were marching down to the parking lot allowing us a perfect view of some of the content of their shopping carts and their not too slim figures. It seemed too much of a coincidence that almost every person’s shopping cart contained soft drinks.
As a nation today 32% Americans are obese. Add to that 1/3 of Americans that are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weight problem reached epidemic proportions; it affected rich and poor, adults and children, people form every educational and racial background.
The epidemics seemed to occur in the last 3-4 decades.
Could all of us at one acquire bad genetics?
Or did something drastically change in our environment?
Richard J Johnson, MD, the author of the new book “The sugar fix” thinks that the reason for the epidemics lies with increase in high fructose consumption. “Americans consume 30 percent more fructose today than in 1970. Our rising consumption of this sugar begun at roughly the same time that obesity rates in the United States were climbing sharply”.
Dr Johnson goes on explaining that fructose consumption increased due to the wide spread usage of the controversial sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS):”which is used in wide variety of processed foods and beverages. If you were to start reading product labels, you’d find that HFCS is also in many foods that might surprise you, such as pasta sauce, yogurt, soups, ketchup and other condiments, and sandwich bread.
In 1970, the average American consumed less than ½ pound of HFCS per year. By 200, per capita consumption of the corn-based sweetener had risen to more than 42 pounds per year”
42 pounds per year of stuff that should make you fat and does not fail to!
As a nation today 32% Americans are obese. Add to that 1/3 of Americans that are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weight problem reached epidemic proportions; it affected rich and poor, adults and children, people form every educational and racial background.
The epidemics seemed to occur in the last 3-4 decades.
Could all of us at one acquire bad genetics?
Or did something drastically change in our environment?
Richard J Johnson, MD, the author of the new book “The sugar fix” thinks that the reason for the epidemics lies with increase in high fructose consumption. “Americans consume 30 percent more fructose today than in 1970. Our rising consumption of this sugar begun at roughly the same time that obesity rates in the United States were climbing sharply”.
Dr Johnson goes on explaining that fructose consumption increased due to the wide spread usage of the controversial sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS):”which is used in wide variety of processed foods and beverages. If you were to start reading product labels, you’d find that HFCS is also in many foods that might surprise you, such as pasta sauce, yogurt, soups, ketchup and other condiments, and sandwich bread.
In 1970, the average American consumed less than ½ pound of HFCS per year. By 200, per capita consumption of the corn-based sweetener had risen to more than 42 pounds per year”
42 pounds per year of stuff that should make you fat and does not fail to!
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Replies
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One rainy Saturday my husband and I were caught in the rain and went to the Dunkin Doughnuts that was separated only by a glass window from the hallway leading to the adjacent Pathmark supermarket. As we were sitting drinking our coffee the people with full shopping cards were marching down to the parking lot allowing us a perfect view of some of the content of their shopping carts and their not too slim figures. It seemed too much of a coincidence that almost every person’s shopping cart contained soft drinks.
As a nation today 32% Americans are obese. Add to that 1/3 of Americans that are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weight problem reached epidemic proportions; it affected rich and poor, adults and children, people form every educational and racial background.
The epidemics seemed to occur in the last 3-4 decades.
Could all of us at one acquire bad genetics?
Or did something drastically change in our environment?
Richard J Johnson, MD, the author of the new book “The sugar fix” thinks that the reason for the epidemics lies with increase in high fructose consumption. “Americans consume 30 percent more fructose today than in 1970. Our rising consumption of this sugar begun at roughly the same time that obesity rates in the United States were climbing sharply”.
Dr Johnson goes on explaining that fructose consumption increased due to the wide spread usage of the controversial sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS):”which is used in wide variety of processed foods and beverages. If you were to start reading product labels, you’d find that HFCS is also in many foods that might surprise you, such as pasta sauce, yogurt, soups, ketchup and other condiments, and sandwich bread.
In 1970, the average American consumed less than ½ pound of HFCS per year. By 200, per capita consumption of the corn-based sweetener had risen to more than 42 pounds per year”
42 pounds per year of stuff that should make you fat and does not fail to!0 -
You think you are safe from Fructose overload?
According to the Corn Refiners Association, food processors may use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the following products:
Asian-style sauces
Baby foods
Bacon
Beer
Biscuits
Bologna
Brandy
Breads and rolls
Breakfast serials
Breakfast meats
Cake and dessert mixes
Cakes
Candy
Canned fruits and fruit fillings
Canned vegetables
Caramel Coloring
Carbonated beverages (nondiet)
Cat and dog foods
Cheese spreads
Chewing gum
Chicken products
Cocoa
Coffee creamer
Cookies
Cordials
Crackers
Dessert toppings
Diet foods
Doughnuts
Dried meets
Egg products
Fish products
Flavorings
Frosting, icing, glazes
Frozen dinners
Frozen puddings and custards
Fruit drinks and juices
Fruit sweeteners
Peanut butter
Pickles
Salad dressings
Sauce mixes
Sausage
Seasoning mixes
Vinegar
Wine
Yeast
Etc. etc…
Check your labels!0 -
So, yeah, if the diet high in fructose was only affecting the expanding waist lines, that would be half as bad.
But the weight problem leads to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney and liver disease, and metabolic syndrome which is a cluster of all health problems mentioned above.
How does fructose cause this terrible damage?
Apparently, high fructose has sneaky habits.
High fructose does not satisfy your appetite. Dr Johnson explains: ”When you eat most types of sugar, your body responds by producing appetite hormones, which signal your brain that your body has consumed enough food to meet its energy needs. As this occurs, the feelings of hunger subside. But unlike other sugars, fructose escapes the attention of appetite hormones. Because of this phenomenon, your brain never gets the message that your body has consumed a load of calories. “
No wonder I felt hungrier after eating McD than I was before (It was a looooooooooooooong time ago, but I remember being puzzled by that and avoiding McDs as a plague!)
What’s more – high-fructose foods may interfere with the signaling system that controls your appetite for all foods. “Chronic consumption of sugary foods seems to promote biochemical changes that prevent the brain from receiving messages from appetite hormones – even when you are not consuming fructose”!
Studies show that fructose is not metabolized in the same way as other sugars, and because of that causes rapid weight gain. Once conditioned this way, it may very well sabotage the weight-loss effort, because the body becomes ultra-sensitive to even small amounts of high fructose and resists weight loss!0 -
Wow, thanks for explaining all that. I've heard of that book and my mom was trying to tell me something about this same thing just yesterday. Awesome post!0
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thanks, jules!
sad, but true - just because it is on the shelves in the supermarket, doesn't mean it is good :grumble:
....0 -
well, I guess I'l just love on body fat for the rest of the year.!!
Tee Hee Tee Hee
:sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:0 -
With all that stuff on the list, I don't know what to eat....I am feeling depressed now.:sad:0
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Oh, no, don't be depressed!With all that stuff on the list, I don't know what to eat....I am feeling depressed now.:sad:
Just check the labels!
the list includes foods that can POTENTIALLY include HFCS!
Not every food has HFCS...
We cannot avoid all the bad stuff, but try to minimize it!
As with everything - do your best and forget the rest.0 -
thanks0
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I try to avoid HFCS at all costs. It's in about everything processed, I eat a pretty clean diet so that makes it easier.
Another good source is the Abs Diet Book, there's a good chapter on HFCS and trans fats. 2 terrible things that seem to be in abundance in a lot of food nowadays.
Jess0 -
i'm trying to elminate HFCS from my diet completely. It is a little daunting and sometimes very very tedious.... however, i feel so much better, my skin looks better, and i don't have many :ahem: digestive problems.
About 2 weeks after i basically gave it up cold turkey, i had a spoonful of JIF peanut butter (i recently have gotten addicted to the natural, organic stuff... yummy) and my stomach was turning for HOURS!
gross.
HFCS is EVERYWHERE!!!0 -
I try to avoid HFCS at all costs. It's in about everything processed, I eat a pretty clean diet so that makes it easier.
Another good source is the Abs Diet Book, there's a good chapter on HFCS and trans fats. 2 terrible things that seem to be in abundance in a lot of food nowadays.
Jess
Hey, Jess,
Unless you really prepare food at home in advance, avoiding HFCS is real hard!
And I really need to get my hands on that Abs Diet Book already!
I've been procrastinating
I kinda am hoping to get my abs to thin out, so, maybe today during lunch I'll go grab it.
Thatks for the reminder!0 -
i'm trying to elminate HFCS from my diet completely. It is a little daunting and sometimes very very tedious.... however, i feel so much better, my skin looks better, and i don't have many :ahem: digestive problems.
About 2 weeks after i basically gave it up cold turkey, i had a spoonful of JIF peanut butter (i recently have gotten addicted to the natural, organic stuff... yummy) and my stomach was turning for HOURS!
gross.
HFCS is EVERYWHERE!!!
Chelsey - about PB. I think I am allergic to it (even organic). :ohwell:
Like, I get weird body pains when I eat P/B.
So I decided to lay off of it...Sad...I like it....
Read it somewhere about addictive allergies, and PB was one of those. I will try to find it again and post here or as a separate thread, if you are interested...0 -
Ok I will have to admit I had to check out my coffee creamer for this HFCS. and........was thinking...:noway: but low and behold I had a rude awakening.....:blushing: The main ingredient was
CORN SYRUP ... and thiought is was SF.....
Thanks for passing on this info. I am still a little unsure what all HFCS is ( I am assuming it is different types of sugars)...but I will be sure to check out.0 -
Yes, we've been avoiding high fructose corn syrup and trans fatty acids for a long time in my household...I think a few items sneak in. However the bulk of our food is free of it..
The cost, having to cook most everything from scratch, read ingredients, and plan ahead.
The benefits, long term health (and many more
) 0 -
There is a link between the "western" diet and obesity. It is largely due to foods being high in fat, fast and packed with sugar salt and other ingredients that we wouldn't eat otherwise.
It is not just Americans, it is every country that has adopted the fast paced life and diet. People are wanting ready to go food and expecting it to be healthy and there is no such thing, organic or not, fast is not healthy.
It was reported last week that within 40 years they believe that every person in our society will be at least 40 lbs overweight. The generation of children growing up right now are the FIRST ever generation of children NOT expected to out live their parents. As parents it is our responsibility to educate our children in a healthy way about the fuel needed for our body.
If you want to read about how much our food supply has changed since the 1950's and the fact that since those changes have occurred our waist lines have continued to bust out of the seams you should read "in defense of food" by michael pollan. It is a great resource and makes you realize that marketing makes us want to buy something because it has claims of being healthier (like many of the so called healthier yogurts out there right now) and in reality the pure version is actually healthiest. The more we mess with our food the more health related issues we seem to have.
Quite honestly, we all need to wake up and start demanding REAL food, not boxed, preserved, preservative loaded, corn syrup loaded ,hydrogenated fats loaded ,processed un-food food.
Just my opinion 0 -
Quite honestly, we all need to wake up and start demanding REAL food, not boxed, preserved, preservative loaded, corn syrup loaded ,hydrogenated fats loaded ,processed un-food food.
Just my opinion
YEs! Lets vote with our walets!
If we stop buying crap, the food industries willl start scratching their heads!
I think it already happening.
In NYC some organic foods are not that much more expencive (my observation, not official survey)
I am taking that as a sign of the power of the consumer!
What do you think?0 -
In general I think this way:
SPEND ON GOOD FOOD - SAVE ON MEDICATIONS AND DOCTORS!
(Works for my acid reflux. I do not take the meds nearly as often as I did in the past!)0 -
Oh, and I heard the interview with this dude on Lenard Lopez, NPR, I think: "in defense of food" by michael pollan. I will add that to my list.0
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Hey, Jess,
Unless you really prepare food at home in advance, avoiding HFCS is real hard!
And I really need to get my hands on that Abs Diet Book already!
I've been procrastinating
I kinda am hoping to get my abs to thin out, so, maybe today during lunch I'll go grab it.
Thatks for the reminder!
I do make a lot of things at home. It is hard though!! I mean, even ketchup and BBQ sauce are loaded w/ it!! (BTW, Heinz makes a good organic ketchup) And it's more expensive to not eat it. it's worth it for my family though. Even my 9yo checks labels before eating to make sure there's no HFCS!
OH, it's a good book!! Let me know what you think of it. The part on HFCS and trans fats makes a lot of sense, I like the way it's written! I got mine on ebay for really cheap!
Jess0 -
Oh, and I heard the interview with this dude on Lenard Lopez, NPR, I think: "in defense of food" by michael pollan. I will add that to my list.
One of my favorite books. . .:flowerforyou:0 -
Jess - I will surely let u know. I will get to reading in a week - taking my son to college this weekend.
ViviaK - you are almost at your goal!
YOU GO GIRL!0 -
In general I think this way:
SPEND ON GOOD FOOD - SAVE ON MEDICATIONS AND DOCTORS!
(Works for my acid reflux. I do not take the meds nearly as often as I did in the past!)
I love this philosophy and completely buy into it.
I had my HFCS revelation while watching Dr. Oz on Oprah one day -- I truly didn't know what it was, where it came from, or how many foods it was in. Once I heard him talking about it I started checking my labels and was horrified! Coffee creamer was the one that really got to me, so I switched to real half-and-half instead.
Just yesterday, I grabbed one of those "to go" bowls of Total Raisin Bran at the airport, thinking that that was the healthiest option, and couldn't even finish the bowl. It tasted horrible and sugary and I could see that even the raisins were sugared and the milk got all gross and sugary.
Looked at the label and sure enough, HFCS was the third ingredient. In RAISIN BRAN! Why?0 -
In general I think this way:
SPEND ON GOOD FOOD - SAVE ON MEDICATIONS AND DOCTORS!
(Works for my acid reflux. I do not take the meds nearly as often as I did in the past!)
I love this philosophy and completely buy into it.
I had my HFCS revelation while watching Dr. Oz on Oprah one day -- I truly didn't know what it was, where it came from, or how many foods it was in. Once I heard him talking about it I started checking my labels and was horrified! Coffee creamer was the one that really got to me, so I switched to real half-and-half instead.
Just yesterday, I grabbed one of those "to go" bowls of Total Raisin Bran at the airport, thinking that that was the healthiest option, and couldn't even finish the bowl. It tasted horrible and sugary and I could see that even the raisins were sugared and the milk got all gross and sugary.
Looked at the label and sure enough, HFCS was the third ingredient. In RAISIN BRAN! Why?
GOOD QUESTION!
Well, in that book one of the main reason is political - because of the subsidies corn is cheap!
Who wudda thunk?!?
Travel is tough and airports are tricky. Some have decent food options some don't. Looks like travel a lot - so good luck to you with that!0 -
Have you seen the movie Wall-E? What you just said about folks being overweight made me think of that movie....
I agree with you though, it's not just HFCS I can't stand, it's the fact that EVERYTHING is processed or from a flippin box! :noway:
I honestly don't think people understand how eating clean can be. During my week, I start planning my meals for the following week. On a day off or over two evenings (it's usually a total of 4 hours) I will cook for my week for every meal! I usually eat "same-sies", which to me means I have two days with the exact same meal (for a total of six days) and then on day seven I eat left overs from over cooking.
I don't care what anyone says, I KNOW you can eat right. This fast-paced lifestyle is only bringing us down.0 -
Sorry, that last post was a response to nichole's post...
anyhow, you are awesome for showing all of the folks on here everything you've found out about HFCS, Jenny....that was awesome of you....:smooched:0 -
I think a lot also has to do with our lifestyles. We drive everywhere, fight for THE closest parking spot, will circle the parking lot 3 times just waiting for a spot to open up instead of parking and walking. We sit inside watching hours of tv instead of going outside, we work long hours just sitting at a desk only leaving to grab some fast food because we are so attached to our jobs. Our house work is made easier by every sort of invention. The vacuum that rolls around on the floor by itself. We would search for the remote rather than get up and change the tv channel. I live in the same neighborhood I grew up in. We used to play outside all day and then play flash light tag at night. Now the kids stay inside all day playing video games and on the computer. When that changes, so will our obesity levels.0
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It was reported last week that within 40 years they believe that every person in our society will be at least 40 lbs overweight. The generation of children growing up right now are the FIRST ever generation of children NOT expected to out live their parents. As parents it is our responsibility to educate our children in a healthy way about the fuel needed for our body.
Just my opinion
:noway: children NOT expected to out live their parents...I heard about this in a adderss from our School Superintendant on Monday...I have to say I have been checking out the kids (I work at a high schoool), and they ARE BIG. I could not believe my eyes!
They must be going home to play video games...anybody remember when parents turned off the TV and said "go outside?" In fact, they didn't even have to tell us, we wanted to play outside, ride bikes, baseball, ect...
I was a Camp Leader at Y Camp a few years ago, and I will never forget my 7/8th grade campers. They didn't want to go on the bike ride much or even walk across camp to archery. The following year I had 9/10th graders, and they complained about hiking and walking across camp to the mess hall! Could not even be bothered!
What happened?0 -
Have you seen the movie Wall-E? What you just said about folks being overweight made me think of that movie....
I agree with you though, it's not just HFCS I can't stand, it's the fact that EVERYTHING is processed or from a flippin box! :noway:
I honestly don't think people understand how eating clean can be. During my week, I start planning my meals for the following week. On a day off or over two evenings (it's usually a total of 4 hours) I will cook for my week for every meal! I usually eat "same-sies", which to me means I have two days with the exact same meal (for a total of six days) and then on day seven I eat left overs from over cooking.
I don't care what anyone says, I KNOW you can eat right. This fast-paced lifestyle is only bringing us down.
YOU ARE MY LONG LOST TWIN!
COMIRE, I GIVE U A HUG!
Seriously, I agree with you all the way!
And I do the same things. I powercook for a week and eat my food (well, when my kitchen functions, which sadly it is not right now, but soon!)
And I happen to like steamed veggies with flaxseed!
Yey to clean eating!0 -
I think a lot also has to do with our lifestyles. We drive everywhere, fight for THE closest parking spot, will circle the parking lot 3 times just waiting for a spot to open up instead of parking and walking. We sit inside watching hours of tv instead of going outside, we work long hours just sitting at a desk only leaving to grab some fast food because we are so attached to our jobs. Our house work is made easier by every sort of invention. The vacuum that rolls around on the floor by itself. We would search for the remote rather than get up and change the tv channel. I live in the same neighborhood I grew up in. We used to play outside all day and then play flash light tag at night. Now the kids stay inside all day playing video games and on the computer. When that changes, so will our obesity levels.
Sad but true!0
This discussion has been closed.
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