[egglover]

I read an article today on the WHAT'S NEW page of Netscape that quotes Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of "You- The Owner's Manuel" concerning 5 foods that you should not eat, and quess what, one of them was high Fructose Corn Syrup. Included was the conclusions of researchers from the University of Michigan, reported on the Today show by contributor Phil Lempert.

High fructose corn syrup is an additive that affects your body's normal ability to control your appetite.

"It blocks the ability of a chemical called leptin, which is the way your fat cells tell your brain it's there," Oz explained to Oprah Winfrey.

"It's not so much the 150 calories of the soda pop, it's that at the same meal you will eat 150 more calories than you would have."

Why High Fructose Corn Syrup makes us fat:

fructose in high levels elevates triglycerides by as much as 32% and makes the body's fat burning and storage system sluggish which causes weight gain.

High Fructose Corn syrup is not a natural product. It is processed from hydrolyzed corn starch and contains:
14% fructose
43% dextrose
31% disaccharides
12% other products

High Fructose Corn Syrup first became the rage in 1970's when soft drink manufacturers discovered it. "Today" reports that at the time, it was thought to be a revolutionary advance in food science. Over the last 15 years---our consumption has increased 250%.

What foods contain High Fructose Corn Syrup?

soft drinks
juice
candy
baked goods
syrup
yogurt
soup
ketchup
breakfast cereal
pasta sauce

WHAT TO DO

1. Read labels
2. Write to the food companies and ask them to stop using it as an ingredient.

[wiccanmalenurse]

Egglover, I too HATE HFCS! If you have read Anthony's post about it it is very enlightening! unfortunately, it is so hard to find products that do not contain it! I read that the only thing you can get at McDonalds without this is a diet coke! Look at Hardee's thick burgers logo and story on the bag! It even says they use angus beef and made the buns "sweeter"! How do you reckon they did that with Splenda? I think you are so right! Due to the introduction of this "poison", our diabetes, obesity and heart disease rate has tripled! But it is inexpensive, a great filler for sweetness and it is addictive! The perfect solution to a manufacturer that cares only about the almighty dollar, return business and so forth! I am sorry but this is one topic I am sore on! I hate what it is doing to America! You pick up ANY item and 98% of the time you will find HFCS or the same disguised as another name. I wish we could go back to the days of Cave man! I would do well (or rather do do well) as they were strong, lean, disease resistant and ate mostly meat, fat (from the meats) nuts, berries and food in it's raw and "natural" state. When we get back to where we should be, the rates I have mentioned above would drop dramatically! Sorry to vent but his HFCS is on the same side as my Mother-in-law (just kidding) but it really does get me going! Addicting young kids right from the get go by putting it in formulas, candy, and foods they learn to love. I think it should be banned but I am sure I will never see that happen in my days. Just my thoughts, David (HFCS hater )
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[egglover]

Thanks for adding your thoughts, David!

[missymagoo12]

thank yoo for posting this. it makes you wake up and read ingreidents for you get thing to eat. sue

[jules225]

The fact that the nasty stuff is in infant formula really gets my knickers in a twist. Yech!

I agree with EVERYTHING David said.

A good read on the evils of sugar is the book Sugar Blues. It's a classic. Slave trade and everything. Vile, vile, vile.

[DonnaT]

Dr. Phil had a show recently where he had 3 pediatricians on who are all related. The Dr. Sears'. They were awesome in giving good healthy advice for what to feed your kids. First and foremost is to breastfeed if at all possible, and secondly not to give your kids any solids at all until they are at least 6 months old. He said "when you do start giving solids, don't give them grains, like rice cereal. He said he thinks this is where some of our obesity epidemic is coming from because our kids get the taste of carbs and sweetness so early that they become addicted at a young age. He said give them avocado, papaya, and other healthy fruits and vegetables, then as they get older give them fish. I of course wholeheartedly agree with this advice, except I would include other healthy meats as well. I really didn't know what was best for my kids when I was pregnant, and raising them, plus I had my own food addictions to deal with because I was not breastfed, and was fed cereals as a first food. I also did this with my kids, except I did try to breastfeed even though I was only successful with my second one. My first was a premie and she was hospitalized for 7 weeks, and I virtually lost my milk in the stress of it all, but during that time I did pump and freeze it to bring to her. I think I had undetected gestational, (borderline) diabetes, because both of my babies were premature, yet they were large for gestational age. My oldest was 8 weeks early and weighed 4lbs. 6 oz. and my youngest was 5 weeks early and weighed 7lbs 6 ozs. She only had to be hospitalized for one week. I also got a staph infection when she was only 4 months old and it affected my ability to totally breastfeed so what did I do, I started her on rice cereal. I am happy though that I was able to resume breastfeeding along with solids until she was almost 2. Interestingly enough both of my girls suffer from weight issues as well. I can't change the past, and I am working on changing my present, because I don't want to die fat!! Thanks for listening, and any of you who read this and still have a chance to make a difference, don't give your kids HFCS, and cereals, give them healthy fruits, vegies, and meats.
Be Well