One of the first things that diet gurus will tell you is that one of the easiest ways to “healthify” your diet is to cut out all of the high fructose corn syrup that you consume. It sounds pretty easy, right? All you have to do is look at the ingredients of the food you are thinking about buying and if you see “high fructose corn syrup” put it back on the shelf. Oh, if only it were that simple. When you start paying attention you’ll realize that high fructose corn syrup is in just about everything! Even whole grain bread lists the stuff in its ingredients list!
High Fructose corn syrup is, at its core, sugar. Sure it’s made from corn but that does not mean that high fructose corn syrup is healthier for the body than straight sugar. After all, sugar is just as natural as corn and nobody doubts the “badness” of sugar. For the most part high fructose corn syrup is used as a preservative, which is why you will often see it listed in the ingredients list of foods that are also sweetened with sugar.
Over the last few years there has been a battle going on between the health officials who advise people to limit their intake of high fructose corn syrup and the people who make the syrup itself. Health advisors say that too much of anything is a bad idea. The corn industry insists that the stuff is healthy and can even be good for you! There was even a series of commercials released in the United States that trumpeted the health advantages of high fructose corn syrup over regular sugar.
So what’s the deal? Is it good for you or bad for you?
The straight up goodness or badness of high fructose corn syrup is hard to determine. There has definitely been a rise in diabetes and obesity since it came on the scene in the late 1950’s. A study done in 2005 determined that high fructose corn syrup made up ten percent of the average adult’s diet. That’s a lot! On the other hand, people who consumed absolutely zero high fructose corn syrup (and they are hard to find) are automatically considered “no-risk” for obesity or diabetes.
Basically, what it boils down to–as most things where your heath is concerned do–is moderation. Some high fructose corn syrup consumption is fine and is hard to avoid. It is when the majority of your diet consists of foods that contain the stuff that your doctor is going to start getting worried. So how do you cut down on this maybe-sort-of-hazardous ingredient?
1. Make your own meals out of natural ingredients. Spaghetti sauce, for example, can be made from natural ingredients found in your produce section. You don’t have to use the jarred stuff. Heck, if you’re up to the task you could even make your own pasta just to ensure that the meal is completely syrup-free!
2. Cut way down on fast foods–when you eat at the drive thru you have zero control over the ingredients used in your food.
3. Opt for water instead of sodas or juices. Water is healthier for you (and cheaper too!)
Good luck!