[Bishop's Fantasy?]
This is MY story and I'm sticking to it!A Soda To Go With Your Butter?
2007-07-25
This is a summary of several articles I read on the detrimental effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup (found in a whole host of processed foods). I wouldn't normally pay much attention to stuff like this, but this is actually one of those cases where making a change in your diet could vastly improve the quality of your life later on. It's worth considering.
High fructose corn syrup is extracted from corn through a process involving a variety of enzymes. Both the corn and the enzymes may have been genetically altered. During the process, part of the glucose from the corn is converted into fructose because it's sweeter. The result is a mixture of 55% fructose and 45% glucose. The process was improved in the 1980's, making it more cost effective than other sweeteners. Since 1966, it has replaced sucrose as the leader in the sweetener market. Consumption has risen from zero in 1966 to approximately 62.6 lbs per year per person.
As high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is broken down in the intestines, it is released in the bloodstream as nearly equal parts of glucose and fructose. The fructose can cause the same kinds of problems in the body as sucrose (table sugar). It's also being linked to widespread obesity. Fructose interferes with the body's natural appetite suppression mechanisms. It stops the body from making the hormones that tell it when it's full as well as short-circuiting hormones that control body weight.
Other effects of HFCS include increased risk of heart disease through elevated LDL's (bad cholesterol), increased risk of osteoporosis by causing a magnesium imbalance, increased risk of Type II Diabetes, interactions with birth control pills causing increased insulin levels in women, accelerated aging, and a copper deficiency that affects iron levels, bone density, the ability of the body to form normal connective tissue, and ischemic heart disease.
As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2004, HFCS is one of the main ingredients that contributes to the sugar content found in soda (8 ½ tsp sugar), low-fat yogurt (as much as 10 tsp sugar), sweetened applesauce (5 tsp sugar), Slim-fast bars (5 tsp sugar), ketchup (1 tsp sugar/Tbsp), and a name-brand smoothie (10 tsp sugar).
It is recommended that people cut down or eliminate HFCS consumption because of the negative effects on the body as well as the process involving genetically modified corn and enzymes. It is also recommended that people reduce or eliminate the consumption of dextrose and maltodextrin (which are highly processesed simple sugars). People should read food labels carefully. It should be noted that HFCS is completely different from the naturally occuring fructose found in whole fruit and fruit juice.
piper (2007-07-25)
RN Vs. dietician!! good thinking
Hardcore_Pyro (2007-07-25)
Just put the high fructose corn syrup in a syringe, 10cc aught to do it and stick it right in my fat arse ;)
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