High fructose corn syrup = High weight gains

We recently moved to a rural area and I was horrified to discover the local supermarket (a Giant) doesn’t carry a single brand of whole wheat hamburger or hot dog rolls that doesn’t contain high froctose corn syrup — not a single bun.  I can’t blame the store, presumably they are catering to demand.  It’s consumers who need to put a stop to this.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), according to Wikipedia, is “any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose to produce a desired sweetness”.  Many people claim it’s no different than other sweeteners, or even regular sugar, but that’s like claiming a McDonalds chicken nugget is equivalent to eating a chicken breast– it’s not.  One has been processed, striping health benefits and adding risks.  The greatest risk of HFCS is weight gain (and the risks, such as heart disease, that accompany being overweight).

A Princeton University study revealed high fructose corn syrup causes excessive gain weight, especially in the mid-section, and increases fat in the blood stream.  ”Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.  In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides.”

Scary.  And high fructose corn syrup is in all types of food, not just sodas.  Check the ingredients for breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups, condiments and any other processed foods and it’s likely there.  I tried to find coleslaw without HFCS and failed.  I picked up relish and it’s the second ingredient.

As moms we all want our children to have long and happy lives.  The first step is giving them a healthy start– and high fructose corn syrup is undermining that effort.  Let’s deliver a message to food manufactures: we don’t want high fructose corn syrup!  And this is easy to do– just check the ingredients and say NO to high fructose corn syrup.