More Dangerous Than Smoking? Death by Soda

[featherB 1]

I've wondered before about the mysterious 'high fructose corn syrup' that seems to be in EVERYTHING, too. A few years ago I bought some (alleged) pink grapefruit juice and almost gagged on it from the gloopy, sickly sweetness of the stuff (I mean, I KNOW fruit juice tends to be full of added sugar over here too, but this tasted more like squash that should be diluted by about 300% before you'd even think about drinking it), checking the label and being confused that something touting itself as a drink actually made out of natural fruit juice would need corn syrup as its main ingredient.

After that I started paying much closer attention to the labels and realised that it wasn't just a freak occurrence in my grapefruit 'juice', but seems to be in everything. I've had more than a few mini-tantrums (well, not quite, but...) in the supermarket with my long-suffering fiance, of the 'BUT WHYYYYYY IS THIS ####### IN STUFF THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE SWEET IN THE FIRST PLACE???' variety. I've noticed it in bread, in the 'buttery' croissants that contain no butter.... gaaah! He bought a bag of grated cheese last time I was there... I'm pretty sure that had HCFS in it, too. Cheese, FFS.

That and the fact that soy seems to be an unnecessary ingredient in practically everything (me and soy do not really get on...) does bother me - unless you stick to eating nothing but organic meat and vegetables, and nothing remotely processed at all, there seems to be little choice but to consume vast amounts of the stuff!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

I assure you I eat healthily. But you will find HFCS in MOST foods on the store shelf. Just do me a favour and be quiet until you have been shopping. Check out the labels.

I think they should be banned from all food products as well as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. They are both molecularly altered synthetically and our bodies don't know what to do with these substances.

do they make us fart more?

No, but they end up costing you more than you know in terms of health costs over a lifetime. Diabetes for one is no laughing matter. My mother developed type 2 about 8 years ago. She nearly lost some of her toes about a year ago because a simple cut on her foot wasn't healing. She has no feeling in her feet. She also may end up losing her sight. Did HFCS have an effect? Possibly - she drank a lot of soda.

same thing is going on with my dad - he can't feel his feet either. he's not lost any toes yet though.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

my aunt lost part of her leg to it and her daughter who developed it around age 5 died from it in her 30s but it didnt appear in aunt until later years, my x developed it and was over weight but still never even tried to control it

[mrc 0]

I just ate a piece of candy that my dad's girlfriend made. Yummy chocolate pecan and caramel clusters. I wonder if it contains any HFCS?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I've wondered before about the mysterious 'high fructose corn syrup' that seems to be in EVERYTHING, too. A few years ago I bought some (alleged) pink grapefruit juice and almost gagged on it from the gloopy, sickly sweetness of the stuff (I mean, I KNOW fruit juice tends to be full of added sugar over here too, but this tasted more like squash that should be diluted by about 300% before you'd even think about drinking it), checking the label and being confused that something touting itself as a drink actually made out of natural fruit juice would need corn syrup as its main ingredient.

After that I started paying much closer attention to the labels and realised that it wasn't just a freak occurrence in my grapefruit 'juice', but seems to be in everything. I've had more than a few mini-tantrums (well, not quite, but...) in the supermarket with my long-suffering fiance, of the 'BUT WHYYYYYY IS THIS ####### IN STUFF THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE SWEET IN THE FIRST PLACE???' variety. I've noticed it in bread, in the 'buttery' croissants that contain no butter.... gaaah! He bought a bag of grated cheese last time I was there... I'm pretty sure that had HCFS in it, too. Cheese, FFS.

That and the fact that soy seems to be an unnecessary ingredient in practically everything (me and soy do not really get on...) does bother me - unless you stick to eating nothing but organic meat and vegetables, and nothing remotely processed at all, there seems to be little choice but to consume vast amounts of the stuff!

It's because here in America, corporate farms have replaced family farms and the food industry is run by corporate giants who care nothing more than increasing their profits by finding the cheapest and most addictive additives to their food products. America is quickly waking up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

[featherB 1]

up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

I'd agree with that... Fast Food Nation makes for a very eye-opening (and depressing, and anger-inducing) read.

[mrc 0]

my aunt lost part of her leg to it and her daughter who developed it around age 5 died from it in her 30s but it didnt appear in aunt until later years, my x developed it and was over weight but still never even tried to control it

I don't know anything about the different types of diabetes, but my aunt's husband had diabetes his whole life. He was on a list for a transplant for years in the Chicago area. He moved down here a few years back and got on a transplant list in New Orleans and got a call two weeks later to come in to the hospital for surgery. For six months after his surgery, his body adapted to the surgery and he had to recover. He took pills so his body could accept the new organ...after the six months, he could eat anything he wanted. He doesn't have diabetes any longer and no more blood tests. 50+ years with diabetes and now he's free from it.

[Robor007 0]

No, but they end up costing you more than you know in terms of health costs over a lifetime. Diabetes for one is no laughing matter. My mother developed type 2 about 8 years ago. She nearly lost some of her toes about a year ago because a simple cut on her foot wasn't healing. She has no feeling in her feet. She also may end up losing her sight. Did HFCS have an effect? Possibly - she drank a lot of soda.

My dad's got type 2 diabetes as well and it's no laughing matter. When he first found out his sugar was so high it was causing eyesight problems. Unfortunately he had it unknown for a while so he's got to take insulin. Even with insulin and a better diet his sugar is still higher than it should be. Like your mother he's got no feeling in his feet - especially toes. Keep in mind he's like 67 and not in great shape so given his age, diet, and condition it's not surprising he developed diabetes.

[mawilson 2,133]

It's because here in America, corporate farms have replaced family farms and the food industry is run by corporate giants who care nothing more than increasing their profits by finding the cheapest and most addictive additives to their food products. America is quickly waking up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

Blah blah blah. Blame U.S. corporations for everything. As if obesity was unique to Americans.

In the UK, adult obesity rates have tripled (and those in children have doubled) in the past 10 years.

Europe is maybe 10-15 years behind America obesity-wise.

[mrc 0]

up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

I'd agree with that... Fast Food Nation makes for a very eye-opening (and depressing, and anger-inducing) read.

Fast Food Nation

There you go...you can read it at that link.

[mrc 0]

It's because here in America, corporate farms have replaced family farms and the food industry is run by corporate giants who care nothing more than increasing their profits by finding the cheapest and most addictive additives to their food products. America is quickly waking up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

Blah blah blah. Blame U.S. corporations for everything. As if obesity was unique to Americans.

In the UK, adult obesity rates have tripled (and those in children have doubled) in the past 10 years.

Europe is maybe 10-15 years behind America obesity-wise.

I wouldn't say they were even that much behind.

UK Obesity Statistics

Trends in Overweight and Obesity

About 46% of men in England and 32% of women are overweight (a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2), and an additional 17% of men and 21% of women are obese (a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2 ).

Overweight and obesity increase with age. About 28% of men and 27% of women aged 16-24 are overweight or obese but 76% of men and 68% of women aged 55-64 are overweight or obese.

Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980's.

[mawilson 2,133]

I wouldn't say they were even that much behind.

Well..... I meant to say "the rest of Europe", the UK is already very close to the US.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's because here in America, corporate farms have replaced family farms and the food industry is run by corporate giants who care nothing more than increasing their profits by finding the cheapest and most addictive additives to their food products. America is quickly waking up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

Blah blah blah. Blame U.S. corporations for everything. As if obesity was unique to Americans.

In the UK, adult obesity rates have tripled (and those in children have doubled) in the past 10 years.

Europe is maybe 10-15 years behind America obesity-wise.

It's not about blame, but accepting facts. Are you refuting those facts that I just mentioned above? They were in answer to the question of why we have HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils in just about every food product here while Europe and Canada doesn't. Do you have a better explanation for that discrepency?

[Mags 112]

It's because here in America, corporate farms have replaced family farms and the food industry is run by corporate giants who care nothing more than increasing their profits by finding the cheapest and most addictive additives to their food products. America is quickly waking up to this reality.

For anyone who hasn't read, "Fast Food Nation," I'd highly recommend it.

Blah blah blah. Blame U.S. corporations for everything. As if obesity was unique to Americans.

In the UK, adult obesity rates have tripled (and those in children have doubled) in the past 10 years.

Europe is maybe 10-15 years behind America obesity-wise.

I wouldn't say they were even that much behind.

UK Obesity Statistics

Trends in Overweight and Obesity

About 46% of men in England and 32% of women are overweight (a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2), and an additional 17% of men and 21% of women are obese (a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2 ).

Overweight and obesity increase with age. About 28% of men and 27% of women aged 16-24 are overweight or obese but 76% of men and 68% of women aged 55-64 are overweight or obese.

Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980's.

People in London (where I came from) tend to be all right weight wise. But, people around there tend to be better paid and have access to better quality food stuffs. Head a bit further out though and you start to see your fair share of muffin tops.

[mawilson 2,133]

It's not about blame, but accepting facts. Are you refuting those facts that I just mentioned above? They were in answer to the question of why we have HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils in just about every food product here while Europe and Canada doesn't. Do you have a better explanation for that discrepency?

No -- all I'm saying is HFCS and trans-fats are not solely responsible for the obesity epidemic

in this country (although they certainly don't help).

Obesity in Canada and Europe is increasing at an alarming rate even without HFCS.

People in London (where I came from) tend to be all right weight wise. But, people around there tend to be better paid and have access to better quality food stuffs. Head a bit further out though and you start to see your fair share of muffin tops.

Same here in New York.

LOL @ "muffin tops"