High Fructose Corn Syrup: 7 Reasons to Stay Away!!!!

In the 1970’s we had an over abundance of corn crops and a lack of sugar cane, so scientist developed a mega sweetner: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). HFCS is a sweetener made from corn starch that has been processed by glucose isomerase to convert some of its glucose into fructose. Seems harmless right?!?!!

That is what the Corn Refiners Association would like us to think. They want us to think it is the same as table sugar and that our body processes it the same way. Well, this is NOT true!!!!! Here are 7 reasons to READ EVERY LABEL and NEVER (knowingly) ingest HFCS!!!

1. It makes you FAT! (We could stop here)
When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is stored as fat. When you eat 120 calories of fructose, 40 calories get stored as fat. Consuming fructose is making you fat!

2. Speeds up the aging process (Awesome)
With every food you eat you are either speeding up or slowing down the aging process. HFCS causes 10x more AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) which leads to damaged organs, joints, and WRINKLED SKIN. So, why waste money on face creams if you cant cut this horrible ingredient out?!?!

3. Causes gas, bloating, and cramps (Yay!)
The small intestine can only absorb a limited amount of fructose daily. Once it is at its limit, bacteria get busy breaking down the remaining undigested fructose resulting in gas, bloating, and cramps.

4. It causes Acne (Lovely)
HFCS consumption can swing your body from an alkaline (healthy) state to an acidic (unhealthy) state. In an acidic state, your body has a lot of systemic inflammation which can eventually appear on your skin as rosacea, acne, or another chronic skin condition

5. HFCS contains MERCURY (Scary)
The problem with mercury is that you are exposing yourself to the following health risks: Nervous Disorders, Kidney Damage, Respiratory Failure, and even Growing Evidence that it Causes Cancer. The scary thing is that HFCS makes up to 15-20% of the average American’s daily calorie intake!

6. Can bring on migraines and headaches (As if we need more reasons for a headache)
Many people have “trigger” foods for headaches, so do we really need to consume one more that is a known trigger for headaches?!

(L-R: Campbell’s Tomato Soup, Ken’s Light Honey Mustard Dressing, Ritz Crackers, Mott’s Applesauce, Lunchables, Powerade, Mt. Olive Pickles, V8 Splash)

7. HFCS is hidden in so many foods, even “health” foods (sneaky)
It is in all of the obvious foods like Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and Kellogs’s Pop Tarts, but its is also in some very unsuspecting products like Motts Apple Sauce, Nabisco Ritz Crackers, Campbell’s Tomato Soup (microwavable bowl), Mt. Olive Pickles, and the majority of cough syrups! Many “diet” and “light” foods and foods that are supposed to be “healthy” have this added ingredient, so always check the BACK of the label, do not trust just the front.  Many of the largest food manufacturers are including this harmful chemical in the majority of their foods.

List of Foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup

Despite the huge AD campaign done by the Corn Refiners Association, all sugar is NOT equal. Please always read labels and make wise choices for your family by avoiding products that contain HFCS. The biggest weapon we have is our wallets, so please avoid buying products that contain it. The good news is that manufacturers are starting to listen and slowly it is being removed from many foods because we (as consumers) are demanding it. However, from Heinz Ketchup, to Lunchables, (that is a whole other post!) if it contains HFCS, chances are it is also nutritionally VOID and STAY AWAY!!

This is a scary bad chemical that should not be allowed in our food or in our body.