Moronacity

Last winter, I was continuing an unending battle with asthma and sinus congestion. It had been a chronic problem for three years. Being a person who has a difficult time consistently taking antibiotics for ten days, or regularly consuming a multivitamin, I found the daily doses of steroids to be just one more costly thing to take from my free time, what little free time I had. I chose to look at my diet for possible causes. I gave up high fructose corn syrup, started drinking a detoxification tea, and began an almost-daily nasal wash. Even though I haven’t drunk the detox tea for quite some while, and my nasal washes are often skipped, those asthma-like ailments are a thing of the past. The only consistent factor has been my choice to abstain from high-fructose corn syrup.

I read labels. I choose many organic and natural foods, and have even given up Campbell’s tomato soup – a lifelong favorite – because it contains high-fructose corn syrup. For the longest time, I went without Coca-Cola, the best soft drink, ever, because it, too, contains high-fructose corn syrup. Now, I occasionally drink Coca-Cola imported from Mexico – made with real sugar. I do eat out and I know I consume high-fructose corn syrup here and there, but nothing like what I used to.

I’ve been quite interested in the SweetSurprise campaign that has been advertised on television, lately. My favorite line from the commercial is, “High-fructose corn syrup is safe, in moderation.”

Moderation – what an interesting concept. Let’s consider the typical American diet. Moderation is hardly the word for it. Most of the foods Americans purchase, especially soft drinks, contain high-fructose corn syrup, and these foods are not consumed in moderation by the average American.

Katherine Zeratsky, Mayo Clinic dietitian, sums it up nicely:

In addition, animal studies have shown a link between increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and adverse health effects, such as diabetes and high cholesterol. However, the evidence is not as clear in human studies.

Despite the lack of clarity in research, the fact remains that Americans consume large quantities of high-fructose corn syrup in the form of soft drinks, fruit-flavored beverages and other processed foods. These types of foods are often high in calories and low in nutritional value. This fact alone is reason to be cautious about foods containing high-fructose corn syrup.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fructose-corn-syrup/AN01588

High-fructose corn syrup is also less eco-friendly, and going without it is a step towards going green. Most corn is grown without crop rotation, meaning more fertilizers and pesticides are used. Fertilizers have gotten into the water in many areas, causing negative bioeffects for people and animals, alike.

Milling and chemically altering corn to form high-fructose corn syrup also is energy-intensive. That’s not to say that corn is evil and other foods aren’t; all crops require energy to grow and transport. What makes corn a target is that federal subsidies — and tariffs on imported sugar — keep prices low, paving the way for widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup and, in the process, keeping the American palate accustomed to the sweetness it provides.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603294.html

While white sugar (bleached) is not the top choice for sweeteners, it is my primary choice due to cost. However, there are alternative sweeteners that are worth checking out: raw sugar, honey, stevia, and agave nectar to name a few. Slowly incorporating natural alternatives into your diet is a great way to make changes that may very well maintain, and even improve, the quality of your life for years to come.