Have any of you seen the recent tv ads defending HFCS? They make me crazy !!! Here's why and I'll try to contain myself.
HFCS is a man made, highly refined sugar (BAD). Its use became widespread in the early '80s by food manufacturers because it is cheaper than sugar, sweet, keeps food moist and lengthens food shelf life. The concerning part is that HFCS is in almost EVERYTHING from soft drinks, breakfast cereals, granola and cereal bars, baked goods, cookies, crackers, YOGURTS, sauces, mayo and salad dressings...you get the idea.
Here's why it's bad for all of us. Normally, we eat something, our blood sugar goes up and the pancreas releases insulin to balance out the blood sugar. HFCS bypasses this entire process and goes straight to the liver where it is converted into FAT (and we all want more of that, right ???) The second scary role of HFCS is that it stops the release of leptin in the body. Leptin is a hormone that signals the brain to stop eating once the stomach is full/satisfied. Without leptin, the likelihood is over eating. So a diet high in HFCS causes overeating and more fat production in the body...sound appealing???????
Bottomline, a little HFSC every once in a while is ok. However, it's everywhere. Take a minute to look at the ingredients list on foods. If HFCS is one of the first five, choose something else or try making it yourself. Hope this was helpful !!
Judy
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4 comments:
I can't stand to look on the dates of cans --- good until the year 2010. Makes you wonder!
I haven't read yet, but several people have mentioned this book to me. It is about the evils of our processed food: http://www.skinnybitch.net/
Has anyone read??
I am so glad you posted this. I saw the commercial you are talking about, I screamed at the TV. I am a label reader, I feel like I have to be, especially when it comes to food I buy for my children. We as parents have a responsiblity to make sure we provide healthy and safe foods for our kids. HFCS, along with partially hydrogenated oils are a no-no in our home. I buy from the organic natural section at Wegmans and I home make a lot of the snacks my kids eat. Another thing that throws me over the edge of sanity...sucralose, Splenda. that is in so many foods and you don't even realize it. I bought All Bran with strawberry's last week, read the label and it had sucralose in it! Yikes! My kids had already had a bowl of it, but the rest went in the trash. I donj't allow my kids to have any artificial sweeteners and I don't think it's fair for food companies to sneak it in there.
I'll have to check out that site!
This had me thinking even more about reading food labels. Did you know that fruit cup (which I don't buy, but my kids wish I would) is made in CHINA! yep, Dole fruit cupo that comes in the single serve, perfect for a kids lunch box is a product of China. I buy canned mushrooms for different recipes, Wegman's brand canned mushrooms are a product of CHINA! But the ones right next to them, the Organic ones, are a product of the US. This kills me, why are we selling foods produced from China when the USA has so much farm land, isn't the state of PA one of the countrys top gowers of mushrooms? And wegman's is getting theirs from China?
I have a lot of issues when it comes to food. I won't buy anything with Partially Hydrogenated oils in it, I won't buy from China, I won't buy Splenda and I limit HFCS. What does that leave us?
Laura -- good post. I find that almost everything is made in China -- I don't know how to avoid it? Any suggestions. I mean food, toys, etc. I think given all the recent recalls on China's products too -- it is concerning to have all our eggs in one basket. I think this age of instant gratification has created this need to have things quick and cheap. We can't have our cake and eat it too --- if we want it cheap, we will have to sacrifice quality. If we want quality, we will have to accept the costs AND likely have to give up other luxuries in order to afford the higher quality. What do you think?
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