By: Leanne Ely
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is evil. Lord knows I’ve written enough about this poison over the years. But a disturbing new tactic by the corn growers makes me think we need to have this conversation again.
In case you need a refresher. HFSC is a man-made sweetener that you find in hundreds of packaged foods on grocery store shelves. It’s cheaper to use than sugar, so food manufacturers use this stuff in everything from breakfast cereal and ketchup to children’s vitamins and cough syrup.
HFCS is making us sick and overweight. Why?
• It’s a preservative (it’s not good to eat preservatives, y’all)
• Your liver can more readily convert HFCS to fat than it can straight sugar.
• HFCS blocks leptin, a naturally secreted chemical in your body that is responsible for regulating your appetite. If your leptin isn’t working, your appetite can get out of control very easily.
• HFCS is linked to high cholesterol and diabetes in animals, and for us humans, well, I don’t know about you but I think we should all be avoiding it too.
• In a recent study, a group of animals was fed a high fructose corn syrup diet. Six out of ten animals had liver tumors within six months.
• HFCS contributes to your risk of developing cancer because it causes DNA damage and inflammation and leads to an increased production of free radicals within the body.
• HFCS is linked to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
• 90% of the corn grown in the US is genetically modified and, as a result, so is that HFCS.
So, back to the corn growers. There have been ads issued by the corn growers recently, telling the public that corn syrup is natural and not really any different than any other form of sugar. That it’s not really all that bad for you. This is according to “scientific” research, of course.
What these ads aren’t telling you is that the research backing up these claims is supported by a grant from the Corn Refiners Association.
How unbiased do you suppose these claims might be?
We need to seriously stop consuming high fructose corn syrup. So, let’s talk about how to get this insidious ingredient out of our homes.
• Let’s get rid of the soft drinks, flavored beverages and processed foods. These are the biggest culprits of HFCS and they are completely empty calories. Replace soda with water. Please!
• Read food labels. HFCS will be clearly marked on the ingredient list. The closer to the top of the list of ingredients, the more that’s in there.
• Eat well because I promise you, you will not find HFCS in fresh fruits and vegetables!
Getting rid of HFCS is a quick way to start optimizing your health. Another way to do it is to join us for the 30 Day QuickStart with Dr. Terry Wahls and me! We have great food, menus, community, coaching…the whole 9 yards, click here for details!
0 Responses
I am a miserable failure at baking bread. So I have to buy it….most breads contain HFCS. The only brand I have found in my area is Arnold’s. Problem with that is my daughter has a nut allergy and this bread has nut warning on it. Help!
Look into Dave’s killer bread or silver hills bakery
Have you thought about getting a bread machine? They are awesome and so easy to use, and you can totally control the ingredients. I use Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free
I gave my bread machine away. I was producing something closer to footballs then bread.
I cook and bake almost anything. But as soon as it involves yeast, major fail! Lol
I have avoided HFCS for the last many years, but I think it’s important to distinguish between the corn growers and the corn processors. We should not equate the farmers who are growing what the market demands with the large corporations that have created unhealthy but profitable products. As we vote with our dollars and refuse to buy HFCS products, the farmers will adapt.
I make water kefir probiotics soda every few days a pro. its great 24 hours you have a great soda no sugar added. you can make bread from other flours like almond and coconut flours.
Equipment:
3 tab water kefir grains
Glass Jar (1 quart or half gallon)
3-4 cups filter water or spring water ( filter water you want to add a bit of salt . sea salt or another natural salt not table salt.
Wooden spoon for stirring (avoid metal)
Towel, cheesecloth or coffee filter to cover jar
Rubber band
let sit out on counter 24v hours and then start again .
My Favorite Variations:
After the first fermentation, cap the water kefir without adding any
juice. After two days, put in fridge and add vanilla extract before
drinking- tastes like cream soda!
Adding lemon juice and drinking right after the first fermentation- tastes like lemonade!
Doing the second fermentation with grape, apple, cherry or pomegranate for a fizzy fruit flavored soda.
Adding raisins or prune juice for the second fermentation- tastes like Dr. Pepper.
Making a grape or berry flavored second fermentation and mixing with iced herbal tea for a carbonated fruity iced tea drink.
I just started using raw coconut nectar for my sweetener and raw honey I use all the time .