Any-Mom » Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

11.04.2008 | Author: MoltoMom | Posted in Our Bodies, Our Selves

I’m not a health nut. Let me start by saying that. I’ve always been somewhat concerned about what I put into my body and now that I’m a mom, that concern has only multiplied. But after a casual lunch conversation about four years ago, I have waged my own personal war against high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

During said lunch, I was drinking a bottle of Lipton Brisk Iced Tea and somehow my co-worker and I got into a discussion about the label’s list of ingredients. (I’m quite the riveting lunch conversationalist.) One of the many polysyllabic ingredients was HFCS and my co-worker pointed out that it’s everywhere, in practically everything we consume. I thought he was exaggerating. However, after raiding my pantry later that day and reading labels, I realized that his statement held a lot of truth. Uncovering the HFCS soon became a game for us. We came into work each day naming new products that contained it. Cereals! Bread! Fruit drinks! Ketchup! Wait – ketchup?!? Yes, ketchup! The game continued on and on, sadly, as the list was seemingly endless.

This game was turning into something much more serious for me. I wanted to know more about high fructose corn syrup and what harm it could cause. A little research explained that HFCS is a sweetener created by processing cornstarch into fructose with the help of enzymes. A cheaper alternative to sugar, HFCS extends the shelf life of processed foods and drinks, so it’s hardly a surprise that it’s included in so many items we eat.

The problem though is that processed foods made with HFCS are high in calories and low in nutritional value. Consuming these items on a regular basis – and considering how ubiquitous HFCS is, that’s not very hard to do – can contribute to weight problems, which in turn can promote conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Couple this information with the fact that obesity rates in America grow higher each year and it starts to make a gal wonder.

So when I saw recent commercials from the Corn Refiners Association claiming that HFCS is essentially the same as sugar, I was surprised, not to mention annoyed. Considering that HFCS is processed, it can’t compare to the intrinsically natural quality of sugar. How could it? Although the commercials would have consumers believe that it can, it’s interesting to note that funding for the Corn Refiners Association’s research came from companies like Pepsi Co. and the American Beverage Association, who would stand to benefit from the consumption of products made with HFCS. That’s not what I would consider credible research.

The fact that most of these commercials are targeted at moms makes me even more enraged. What’s a mom to do? For the past several years, few items with HFCS, if any, make it onto my weekly shopping list. It’s certainly challenging to find items without HFCS, but it can be done. For example, I’ve learned which brands of bread are HFCS-free (Vermont Bread Company and pretty much any brand from Trader Joe’s are quality choices), which granola bars (Quaker Simple Harvest is a winner), and which cereals (good old Cheerios is a tried and true option). Plus, I’ve been buying more whole foods – fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, which are better choices for my family anyway. This mom won’t blindly drink the Kool-Aid, nor will I fail to be able to articulate why HFCS is tough to swallow.