Have you seen those new commercials about hugh fructose corn syrup? I have been among the masses who have been led to believe that it’s in the same category as transfats – artificial, really really bad for you, and an essential if you want to get really fat. Anyways, the commercials lead you to a website that supposedly uncovers the truth. After seeing the site advertised about 15 times, I checked it out.
In short, high fructose corn syrup is made from a natural source, and although it’s not exactly a health food, it’s similar in nutritional value to sugar, another natural sweetener. Interesting. And quite shocking to be honest. And a little annoying, considering the amount of time I’ve wasted at the grocery store scouring labels looking for breads that are made with sugar or molasses instead of HFCS. So maybe it’s not that much worse than sugar after all, if at all. Anybody have any inside info here? I don’t know who to trust anymore!
And speaking of sweeteners, let’s talk about the artificial ones. I’ve heard more than once (from studies like this one) that choosing artificial sweeteners to reduce calorie intake doesn’t really impact your bottom line, or waistline. I, like most people I know, usually opt for the artificial sweeteners when it comes to beverages – diet soda, splenda in coffee, you get the picture. In fact, until I got pregnant, I never drank calories. Not juice, not milk, not regular soda.
Now, I drink both juice and milk, and the occasional Root Beer (I discovered during pregnancy it’s caffeine free but not often available in diet form if you’re out). So it’s gotten me all thinking. Not only is the benefit of going artificial and calorie-free not proven, but the risks are always looming in the back of my mind. Ever since I read this book (interesting but horribly vulgar for a health book, and, as it turns out, about veganism) I have been a little skeptical of artificial sweeteners (think FDA scandals and corruption in scientific studies). Not skeptical enough to cut them out entirely, since even I can recognize serious editorial bias when I see it. But skeptical enough to question their benefit.
So what’s a girl to do? Soon I’ll be deciding what to put in another little mouth. Anybody want to throw out some info that will help me decide what sweet stuff to/not to put in it?
Back to the old adage…moderation, moderation, moderation. High fructose corn syrup, like sugar, contains calories, which translate into added weight. And despite what you might read elsewhere, it doesn’t just go to your waist. It goes all over (you just notice it more in the waist when your pants don’t fit). As to the artificial sweeteners, I’ve seen studies that say people who use them are more likely to be overweight, but is it really the sweeteners, or would these people (like me) be even MORE overweight if we didn’t use them? Of course, I’ve also read studies that say that if the body takes in sweet-tasting stuff but doesn’t actually get calories, it slows its metabolism down, leading to potential weight gain. So, in a nutshell, I don’t know either…
I had the same thoughts! Since being pregnant, I quit the fake stuff. We even did organic baby food. I also joined a group called “Mom’s on Mission”. Personally, I believe that God gave us everything on this Earth, to enjoy, but not abuse….so, everything in moderation. And, try to stay away from ‘white’ stuff, like white bread, white sugar…etc, totally not natural and harder for the body to break down. I do have the occasional candy bar, cuz ya know, God gave us the brains to create such wonderful things, too.
By the way… my kids had ONE candy on Halloween, then traded in the rest of their candy for a trip to Toys R Us, and picked out a toy…Kyle said that toys last longer…brilliant child! Gonna be a lawyer!!!!! (well, we will see!)
Well, we do the same thing. Scour the labels to see what has the least of the evil ingredients. If you haven’t planted, grown, picked and cooked it yourself, it has the potential to have something bad for you in it. But as we are all kinda spoiled on the tastiness of prepared foods and drinks, it’s tough to let that go and most of us don’t have the time or knowledge to garden, as I discovered this year!
I would take natural ingredients over artificial ones any day, even if it means it has more calories. You just don’t consume as much of it! My homemade soda was really good and that had plain ol’ sugar in it. It’s pretty impossible to cut out everything unhealthy, but keeping ane eye on what you are eating is never a bad idea.
It’s good to keep questioning these things and striving to make the best choices for your family. Great post, Libby!
I thought for sure this post had do to something about Avery when I saw the title. I thought she muttered her first words or something. Congratulations on branching out. I love diet coke but I feel like its killing me everytime i drink it or something.
you are funny libby. i wont go into the splenda/ artificail sweetener issue… b/c i love my splenda packets,i have however, read THAT BOOK. it changed my thinking for a few days….. but its really really extreme.
here is what i say about high fructose corn syrup in bread……… it is very hard to find any without it in it. and if its like the 5th or further down ingredient, its FINE> as i am sure you know…. the further down th elist the ingredient is, the less of it that there is in the product.
if you want a bread without it, try ezekial bread, in the health food frozen isle. its like 5 bucks. but there is non in there. havent tried it but my freind melissa swears by it.
off to teach… ttyl
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