Corn belongs on the cob

4 Reasons to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup

1. The Process of Making High Fructose Corn Syrup is Pretty Weird


First of all, there's nothing natural about high fructose corn syrup and it most certainly does not exist in nature. The process starts off with corn kernels, yes, but then that corn is spun at a high velocity and combined with three other enzymes: alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and xylose isomerase, so that it forms a thick syrup that's way sweeter than sugar and super cheap to produce. That's why it's poured into a huge majority of mass produced processed foods.


2. High Fructose Corn Syrup Does Weird Stuff to Your Body


While the commercials claim that it's fine in moderation, the truth is that the whole problem with high fructose corn syrup in the first place, is that moderation is seemingly impossible. The syrup interferes with the body's metabolism so that a person can't stop eating. It's truly hard to control cravings because high fructose corn syrup slows down the secretion of leptin in the body. Leptin is a crucial hormone in the body that tells you that you're full and to stop eating. That's why it's so closely associated with obesity in this country. It's like an addictive drug.


3. There Might be Mercury in Your Corn Syrup


And what about the rumors of mercury being found in corn syrup? I wrote last year that according to MSNBC in one study, published in the Journal of Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.


"We went and looked at supermarket samples where high fructose corn syrup was the first or second ingredient on the label," Dr. David Wallinga, a food safety researcher and activist at the nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy said. These 55 different foods included barbecue sauce, jam, yogurt, and chocolate syrup. "We found about one out of three had mercury above the detection limit," Wallinga said.


4. The Environmental Impact of High Fructose Corn Syrup is Huge


Most corn is grown as a monoculture, meaning that the land is used solely for corn, not rotated among crops. Large monocultures, which are usually genetically modified, can be riddled with pests. As a result, monocultures are often dressed with a toxic cocktail of pesticides so that they can survive. Monocultures can deplete the nutrients in soil and lead to erosion. In addition, the pesticides used to grow them pollute our soil and ground water.

Don't be fooled by the TV ads talking about the safety of HFCS. The one I saw was of a couple having a picnic in a beautiful park setting. After reading this, I think you will think differently. But be careful and read all ingredient lists carefullty. Amazing how many processed foods have HFCS.

Thinking about it, why is corn being used as a sweetener base and a fuel additive base. Let's just enjoy it off the cob!