Re: Re: Sugar May be Bad, But this Sweetener is Far More Deadly by Dr. Mercola

[Guest guest]

We do not do soda anymore & if or when we do like these holidays due to my

family & friends over at my place or theirs. We purchase the cokes from

Mexico which is out of cane sugar. Dr. Pepper also has cane sugar as well

but still hard to find. Costoco sells cases of it now on the cokes.

We do lemonade but no artificial sweetener, use cane sugar or in my case

sometimes no sugar.

When craving for that Sparkling fizz, we meaning & I we drink Pure La

Croix Sparkling Water, no artificial sweeteners or sugar, sodium free, comes

also with lemon or lime at Costco. Been taking our own drinks to the movies,

restaurants, etc., for this very reason, too much HF or artificial sweetener

on any food or fluids. Lots of water here & it is great to observe

lately drinking water, this was a battle, he use to spit it out but now no

more.

Hate that yeast bug.

Irma

On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 6:15 AM, cynthiamiltonburns <

cynthiamiltonburns@...> wrote:

>

>

> Irma, Dr. Mumper told me that once we got the yeast under control

> could have real sugar. The way they process the artificial sweeteners were

> not good. I asked her about splenda because it is made from real suger and

> she said no do not use. I did not realize how much stuff was sweetened with

> high fructose corn syrup until I had to start watching what was

> drinking and eating. I buy lemonade from Whole Foods that is sweetened with

> White Grapes and it is good. I heard the other day the Coke was going to

> bring back coke from the 70's made with real sugar. According to Jordan

> Rubin the problem with our diets is GMO,s, preservatives,artificle color and

> sweeteners,etc. He recommends the makes diet like the way people used to eat

> before all the added bad stuff. Cyndi B

>

>

[Guest guest]

Many years ago actual " fructose " appeared on the market in the tiny little

health food world and we were all delighted. It was hailed as a great

breakthrough for those of us who could no longer have sugar...due to

hypoglycemia and prediabetes etc. It was fruit sugar derived mostly from grapes

if I recall correctly. It was good stuff because it metabolized much slower than

sucrose or table sugar.

I remember buying it and, rechecking the label one time, I realized it now said

" derived from corn " . I think many people came to think of " fructose " as a good

thing back then and didn't even notice...then of course it morphed into " high "

fructose and a syrup. What we had bought originally was granular. I'm sure there

was no way the genuine fruit sugar company could compete with the mammoth corn

industry.

I don't know where I was going with this lol....just a bit of personal history I

guess.

Sherry

[Guest guest]

The politics of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup is so typical of the

industrical/political complex. Farmers are subsidized to grow corn, corn

prices are held low to encourage use., adding corn to food means more corn

needs to be grown, corn is made into a cheap sweetner and sweetness is

added to more foods, people like sweet so they buy more, and the circle goes

round.

Now if corn were being used as a benign fuel for machines, we would all be

beter off healthwise. And who wants to enter the discussion of how much

energy it will take to use corn that way?

And all of this - food pollution, air pollution EFFECTS OUR KIDS!

>

>

> Many years ago actual " fructose " appeared on the market in the tiny little

> health food world and we were all delighted. It was hailed as a great

> breakthrough for those of us who could no longer have sugar...due to

> hypoglycemia and prediabetes etc. It was fruit sugar derived mostly from

> grapes if I recall correctly. It was good stuff because it metabolized much

> slower than sucrose or table sugar.

>

> I remember buying it and, rechecking the label one time, I realized it now

> said " derived from corn " . I think many people came to think of " fructose " as

> a good thing back then and didn't even notice...then of course it morphed

> into " high " fructose and a syrup. What we had bought originally was

> granular. I'm sure there was no way the genuine fruit sugar company could

> compete with the mammoth corn industry.

>

> I don't know where I was going with this lol....just a bit of personal

> history I guess.

> Sherry

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sara,

This is a scary topic. The whole prospect of GMO corn is even more frightening.

I happened to tape a show on the Sundance Channel called " Monsanto " and it was a

documentary made in France about how chemical companies have re-engineered our

food supply. They interviewed corn growers in Mexico who were discovering that

their non GMO corn plants were now testing out as GMO because of air currents

and cross contamination from GMO farms in the states. So even if we want to stay

away from GMO foods it may indeed become impossible. It was an interesting

viewpoint from a European country hoping to prevent GMO foods in Europe.

What a tangled web we weave.

Sherry

The politics of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup is so typical of the

industrical/political complex. Farmers are subsidized to grow corn, corn

prices are held low to encourage use., adding corn to food means more corn

needs to be grown, corn is made into a cheap sweetner and sweetness is

added to more foods, people like sweet so they buy more, and the circle goes

round.

Now if corn were being used as a benign fuel for machines, we would all be

beter off healthwise. And who wants to enter the discussion of how much

energy it will take to use corn that way?

And all of this - food pollution, air pollution EFFECTS OUR KIDS!

[Guest guest]

Yikes! Indeed as corn is one of 's main reactive food which stirs up

aggressiveness for him. Once eliminated it sure decrease such behavioral

issues he displayed. Corn never showed up on any of his test too, so this

was a shock to hear as when I was told to eliminate all his white flour food

items. I replaced it all with corn this or that. Nope, this was one of the

culprits that stirred us so much of his behavioral issues.

I just found my notes which one of my buddies owner of our local GF bakery

shop, mentioned my way, in regards to making sure I did not give any

Canola Oil as most are GMO & contaminated with wheat. I have to trust her as

her symptoms were similar to 's & yes she study big times due to her

food allergies/food sensitivities & she was a nurse as well who ended up

looking within the nutritional & chemical arena once she was affected & the

culprits were found.

One has to become a label reader but then once again it is just never

knowing what are in the food or fluid intake. Just can't win.

Irma,21,DS/ASD

>

>

> Sara,

> This is a scary topic. The whole prospect of GMO corn is even more

> frightening. I happened to tape a show on the Sundance Channel called

> " Monsanto " and it was a documentary made in France about how chemical

> companies have re-engineered our food supply. They interviewed corn growers

> in Mexico who were discovering that their non GMO corn plants were now

> testing out as GMO because of air currents and cross contamination from GMO

> farms in the states. So even if we want to stay away from GMO foods it may

> indeed become impossible. It was an interesting viewpoint from a European

> country hoping to prevent GMO foods in Europe.

>

> What a tangled web we weave.

> Sherry

>

> The politics of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup is so typical of the

> industrical/political complex. Farmers are subsidized to grow corn, corn

> prices are held low to encourage use., adding corn to food means more corn

> needs to be grown, corn is made into a cheap sweetner and sweetness is

> added to more foods, people like sweet so they buy more, and the circle

> goes

> round.

>

> Now if corn were being used as a benign fuel for machines, we would all be

> beter off healthwise. And who wants to enter the discussion of how much

> energy it will take to use corn that way?

>

> And all of this - food pollution, air pollution EFFECTS OUR KIDS!

>

>

[Guest guest]

As near as I can find - the safest oil is OLIVE OIL - but be sure that it is

NOT from CALIFORNIA> Look for Greek or ASpanish. Italian is OK. I have

not seen Portuguese.

> Yikes! Indeed as corn is one of 's main reactive food which stirs up

> aggressiveness for him. Once eliminated it sure decrease such behavioral

> issues he displayed. Corn never showed up on any of his test too, so this

> was a shock to hear as when I was told to eliminate all his white flour

> food

> items. I replaced it all with corn this or that. Nope, this was one of the

> culprits that stirred us so much of his behavioral issues.

>

> I just found my notes which one of my buddies owner of our local GF bakery

> shop, mentioned my way, in regards to making sure I did not give any

> Canola Oil as most are GMO & contaminated with wheat. I have to trust her

> as

> her symptoms were similar to 's & yes she study big times due to her

> food allergies/food sensitivities & she was a nurse as well who ended up

> looking within the nutritional & chemical arena once she was affected & the

> culprits were found.

>

> One has to become a label reader but then once again it is just never

> knowing what are in the food or fluid intake. Just can't win.

>

>

> Irma,21,DS/ASD

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> >

> > Sara,

> > This is a scary topic. The whole prospect of GMO corn is even more

> > frightening. I happened to tape a show on the Sundance Channel called

> > " Monsanto " and it was a documentary made in France about how chemical

> > companies have re-engineered our food supply. They interviewed corn

> growers

> > in Mexico who were discovering that their non GMO corn plants were now

> > testing out as GMO because of air currents and cross contamination from

> GMO

> > farms in the states. So even if we want to stay away from GMO foods it

> may

> > indeed become impossible. It was an interesting viewpoint from a European

> > country hoping to prevent GMO foods in Europe.

> >

> > What a tangled web we weave.

> > Sherry

> >

> > The politics of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup is so typical of the

> > industrical/political complex. Farmers are subsidized to grow corn, corn

> > prices are held low to encourage use., adding corn to food means more

> corn

> > needs to be grown, corn is made into a cheap sweetner and sweetness is

> > added to more foods, people like sweet so they buy more, and the circle

> > goes

> > round.

> >

> > Now if corn were being used as a benign fuel for machines, we would all

> be

> > beter off healthwise. And who wants to enter the discussion of how much

> > energy it will take to use corn that way?

> >

> > And all of this - food pollution, air pollution EFFECTS OUR KIDS!

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Interesting to know Sara, may I ask why?

So far, have purchased the Olive Oil from Spain & Italy.

The Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Nice to know though, is the CA, GMO?

Thanks for sharing this.

Irma

>

>

> As near as I can find - the safest oil is OLIVE OIL - but be sure that it

> is

> NOT from CALIFORNIA> Look for Greek or ASpanish. Italian is OK. I have

> not seen Portuguese.

>

>

[Guest guest]

HAve NO IDEA and have read nothing about California Olive Oil and have

never seen it in the east. Just a general - keep a watch for it. I think

it is too dangerous.

>

>

> Interesting to know Sara, may I ask why?

>

> So far, have purchased the Olive Oil from Spain & Italy.

> The Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil.

> Nice to know though, is the CA, GMO?

>

> Thanks for sharing this.

>

> Irma

>

>

> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Sara Cohen

<pastmidvale@...<pastmidvale%40gmail.com>>

> wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > As near as I can find - the safest oil is OLIVE OIL - but be sure that it

> > is

> > NOT from CALIFORNIA> Look for Greek or ASpanish. Italian is OK. I have

> > not seen Portuguese.

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Irma,

was a big time reactor to corn...tested at 4+. She loved her little

cornchips too. And popcorn...good stuff. I'm glad she seems to have forgotten

about her wanton toddlerhood and things like cheetos and pretzels etc.

But what is to do in a culture that loves their corn tacos and such?

Poor kid.

Sherry

Yikes! Indeed as corn is one of 's main reactive food which stirs up

aggressiveness for him. Once eliminated it sure decrease such behavioral

issues he displayed. Corn never showed up on any of his test too, so this

was a shock to hear as when I was told to eliminate all his white flour food

items. I replaced it all with corn this or that. Nope, this was one of the

culprits that stirred us so much of his behavioral issues.

[Guest guest]

I just checked my teriaki sauce and my soy sauce - different products from

different companies - both have HFCS> So now I need to look for

replacements for it. And I need to avoid MSG when ever I can - HIVES!!!

On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 6:27 PM, cynthiamiltonburns <

cynthiamiltonburns@...> wrote:

>

>

> Sara, they did some research and found that it contains Mercury. That is

> one of the main reasons I am avoiding it. Cyndi B

>

>

> > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Scientists have proved for the first time that fructose, a cheap form

> of

> > > > sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks, can damage

> > > human

> > > > metabolism and is fueling the obesity crisis.

> > > >

> > > > Fructose, a sweetener usually derived from corn, can cause dangerous

> > > > growths of fat cells around vital organs and is able to trigger the

> early

> > > > stages of diabetes and heart disease.

> > > >

> > > > Over 10 weeks, 16 volunteers on a controlled diet including high

> levels

> > > of

> > > > fructose produced new fat cells around their heart, liver and other

> > > > digestive organs. They also showed signs of food-processing

> abnormalities

> > > > linked to diabetes and heart disease. Another group of volunteers on

> the

> > > > same diet, but with glucose sugar replacing fructose, did not have

> these

> > > > problems.

> > > >

> > > > Sources:

> > > >

> > > > Grist December 15, 2009

> > > >

> > > > J Clin Invest 2009

> > > >

> > > > Times Online 2009

> > > >

> > > > Dr. Mercola's Comments:

> > > > Follow me on facebook

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > This study takes its place in a growing lineup of scientific studies

> > > > demonstrating that consuming high-fructose corn syrup is the fastest

> way

> > > to

> > > > trash your health. It is now known without a doubt that sugar in your

> > > food,

> > > > in all it's myriad of forms, is taking a devastating toll.

> > > >

> > > > And fructose in any form -- including high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

> and

> > > > crystalline fructose -- is the worst of the worst!

> > > >

> > > > Fructose is a major contributor to:

> > > >

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Insulin resistance and obesity

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Elevated blood pressure

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Elevated triglycerides and elevated LDL

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Depletion of vitamins and minerals

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer, arthritis and even

> gout

> > > >

> > > > A Calorie is Not a Calorie

> > > >

> > > > Glucose is the form of energy you were designed to run on. Every cell

> in

> > > > your body, every bacterium -- and in fact, every living thing on the

> > > > Earth--uses glucose for energy.

> > > >

> > > > If you received your fructose only from vegetables and fruits (where

> it

> > > > originates) as most people did a century ago, you'd consume about 15

> > > grams

> > > > per day -- a far cry from the 73 grams per day the typical adolescent

> > > gets

> > > > from sweetened drinks. In vegetables and fruits, it's mixed in with

> > > fiber,

> > > > vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and beneficial phytonutrients, all which

> > > > moderate any negative metabolic effects.

> > > >

> > > > It isn't that fructose itself is bad -- it is the MASSIVE DOSES

> you're

> > > > exposed to that make it dangerous.

> > > >

> > > > There are two reasons fructose is so damaging:

> > > >

> > > > 1.

> > > >

> > > > Your body metabolizes fructose in a much different way than glucose.

> The

> > > > entire burden of metabolizing fructose falls on your liver.

> > > > 2.

> > > >

> > > > People are consuming fructose in enormous quantities, which has made

> the

> > > > negative effects much more profound.

> > > >

> > > > Today, 55 percent of sweeteners used in food and beverage

> manufacturing

> > > are

> > > > made from corn, and the number one source of calories in America is

> soda,

> > > in

> > > > the form of HFCS.

> > > >

> > > > Food and beverage manufacturers began switching their sweeteners from

> > > > sucrose (table sugar) to corn syrup in the 1970s when they discovered

> > > that

> > > > HFCS was not only far cheaper to make, it's also about 20 times

> sweeter

> > > than

> > > > table sugar.

> > > >

> > > > This switch drastically altered the average American diet.

> > > >

> > > > By USDA estimates, about one-quarter of the calories consumed by the

> > > > average American is in the form of added sugars, and most of that is

> > > HFCS.

> > > > The average Westerner consumes a staggering 142 pounds a year of

> sugar!

> > > And

> > > > the very products most people rely on to lose weight -- the low-fat

> diet

> > > > foods -- are often the ones highest in fructose.

> > > >

> > > > Making matters worse, all of the fiber has been removed from these

> > > > processed foods, so there is essentially no nutritive value at all.

> > > >

> > > > Fructose Metabolism Basics

> > > >

> > > > Without getting into the very complex biochemistry of carbohydrate

> > > > metabolism, it is important to understand some differences about how

> your

> > > > body handles glucose versus fructose. I will be publishing a major

> > > article

> > > > about this in the next couple of months, which will get much more

> into

> > > the

> > > > details, but for our purpose here, I will just summarize the main

> points.

> > > >

> > > > Dr. Lustig Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of

> > > > Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, has

> been a

> > > > pioneer in decoding sugar metabolism. His work has highlighted some

> major

> > > > differences in how different sugars are broken down and used:

> > > >

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > After eating fructose, 100 percent of the metabolic burden rests on

> your

> > > > liver. But with glucose, your liver has to break down only 20

> percent.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Every cell in your body, including your brain, utilizes glucose.

> > > Therefore,

> > > > much of it is " burned up " immediately after you consume it. By

> contrast,

> > > > fructose is turned into free fatty acids (FFAs), VLDL (the damaging

> form

> > > of

> > > > cholesterol), and triglycerides, which get stored as fat.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > The fatty acids created during fructose metabolism accumulate as fat

> > > > droplets in your liver and skeletal muscle tissues, causing insulin

> > > > resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin

> > > resistance

> > > > progresses to metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Fructose is the most lipophilic carbohydrate. In other words,

> fructose

> > > > converts to activated glycerol (g-3-p), which is directly used to

> turn

> > > FFAs

> > > > into triglycerides. The more g-3-p you have, the more fat you store.

> > > Glucose

> > > > does not do this.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is stored

> as

> > > > fat. 120 calories of fructose results in 40 calories being stored as

> fat.

> > > > Consuming fructose is essentially consuming fat!

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > The metabolism of fructose by your liver creates a long list of waste

> > > > products and toxins, including a large amount of uric acid, which

> drives

> > > up

> > > > blood pressure and causes gout.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Glucose suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates leptin,

> > > which

> > > > suppresses your appetite. Fructose has no effect on ghrelin and

> > > interferes

> > > > with your brain's communication with leptin, resulting in overeating.

> > > >

> > > > If anyone tries to tell you " sugar is sugar, " they are way behind the

> > > > times. As you can see, there are major differences in how your body

> > > > processes each one.

> > > >

> > > > The bottom line is: fructose leads to increased belly fat, insulin

> > > > resistance and metabolic syndrome -- not to mention the long list of

> > > chronic

> > > > diseases that directly result.

> > > >

> > > > Panic in the Corn Fields

> > > >

> > > > As the truth comes out about HFCS, the Corn Refiners Association is

> > > > scrambling to convince you that their product is equal to table

> sugar,

> > > that

> > > > it is " natural " and safe.

> > > >

> > > > Of course, many things are " natural " -- cocaine is natural, but you

> > > > wouldn't want to use 142 pounds of it each year.

> > > >

> > > > The food and beverage industry doesn't want you to realize how truly

> > > > pervasive HFCS is in your diet -- not just from soft drinks and

> juices,

> > > but

> > > > also in salad dressings and condiments and virtually every processed

> > > food.

> > > > The introduction of HFCS into the Western diet in 1975 has been a

> > > > multi-billion dollar boon for the corn industry.

> > > >

> > > > The FDA classifies fructose as GRAS: Generally Regarded As Safe.

> Which

> > > > pretty much means nothing and is based on nothing.

> > > >

> > > > There is plenty of data showing that fructose is not safe -- but the

> > > > effects on the nation's health have not been immediate. That is why

> we

> > > are

> > > > just now realizing the effects of the last three decades of

> nutritional

> > > > misinformation.

> > > >

> > > > As if the negative metabolic effects are not enough, there are other

> > > issues

> > > > with fructose that disprove its safety:

> > > >

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > More than one study has detected unsafe mercury levels in HFCS[ii].

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Crystalline fructose (a super-potent form of fructose the food and

> > > beverage

> > > > industry is now using) may contain arsenic, lead, chloride and heavy

> > > metals.

> > > > *

> > > >

> > > > Nearly all corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn, which

> comes

> > > > with its own set of risks.

> > > >

> > > > The FDA isn't going to touch sugar, so it's up to you to be proactive

> > > about

> > > > your own dietary choices.

> > > >

> > > > What's a Sugarholic to Do?

> > > >

> > > > Ideally, I recommend that you avoid as much sugar as possible. This

> is

> > > > especially important if you are overweight or have diabetes, high

> > > > cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

> > > >

> > > > I also realize we don't live in a perfect world, and following rigid

> > > > dietary guidelines is not always practical or even possible.

> > > >

> > > > If you want to use a sweetener occasionally, this is what I

> recommend:

> > > >

> > > > 1.

> > > >

> > > > Use the herb stevia.

> > > > 2.

> > > >

> > > > Use organic cane sugar in moderation.

> > > > 3.

> > > >

> > > > Use organic raw honey in moderation.

> > > > 4.

> > > >

> > > > Avoid ALL artificial sweeteners, which can damage your health even

> more

> > > > quickly than fructose.

> > > > 5.

> > > >

> > > > Avoid agave syrup since it is a highly processed sap that is almost

> all

> > > > fructose. Your blood sugar will spike just as it would if you were

> > > consuming

> > > > regular sugar or HFCS. Agave's meteoric rise in popularity is due to

> a

> > > great

> > > > marketing campaign, but any health benefits present in the original

> agave

> > > > plant are processed out.

> > > > 6.

> > > >

> > > > Avoid so-called energy drinks and sports drinks because they are

> loaded

> > > > with sugar, sodium and chemical additives. Rehydrating with pure,

> fresh

> > > > water is a better choice.

> > > >

> > > > If you or your child is involved in athletics, I recommend you read

> my

> > > > article Energy Rules for some great tips on how to optimize your

> child's

> > > > energy levels and physical performance through good nutrition.

> > > > Here is the site to read the full article. Cyndi B

> > > > http://articles.mercola.com/sites/current.aspx

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I am not going GR, but am trying to eliminate additives which I am becoming

more and more sensitive to. We don't use most soy products because of

hormonal issues for my dh, but I can use soy. I cannot eat MSG (or at least

not much of it) and I am trying to avoid HFC. Also casein as an additive

altho I can can drink/eat dairty - but not casein as an addirtive.

My issuse is IDOPATHIC URTICARIA. So when I break out in hives we have to

isolate the ingrediants, test eachone and then decide which I am reacting to

and at what level - CATS are a 4 but MSG is a 2. Profens are a 10, but

casein is 2-4. . Ain't this fun???

> I just checked my teriaki sauce and my soy sauce - different products from

> different companies - both have HFCS> So now I need to look for

> replacements for it. And I need to avoid MSG when ever I can - HIVES!!!

>

> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 6:27 PM, cynthiamiltonburns <

> cynthiamiltonburns@...> wrote:

>

>>

>>

>> Sara, they did some research and found that it contains Mercury. That is

>> one of the main reasons I am avoiding it. Cyndi B

>>

>>

>> > >

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > > > Scientists have proved for the first time that fructose, a cheap

>> form of

>> > > > sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks, can damage

>> > > human

>> > > > metabolism and is fueling the obesity crisis.

>> > > >

>> > > > Fructose, a sweetener usually derived from corn, can cause dangerous

>> > > > growths of fat cells around vital organs and is able to trigger the

>> early

>> > > > stages of diabetes and heart disease.

>> > > >

>> > > > Over 10 weeks, 16 volunteers on a controlled diet including high

>> levels

>> > > of

>> > > > fructose produced new fat cells around their heart, liver and other

>> > > > digestive organs. They also showed signs of food-processing

>> abnormalities

>> > > > linked to diabetes and heart disease. Another group of volunteers on

>> the

>> > > > same diet, but with glucose sugar replacing fructose, did not have

>> these

>> > > > problems.

>> > > >

>> > > > Sources:

>> > > >

>> > > > Grist December 15, 2009

>> > > >

>> > > > J Clin Invest 2009

>> > > >

>> > > > Times Online 2009

>> > > >

>> > > > Dr. Mercola's Comments:

>> > > > Follow me on facebook

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > > > This study takes its place in a growing lineup of scientific studies

>> > > > demonstrating that consuming high-fructose corn syrup is the fastest

>> way

>> > > to

>> > > > trash your health. It is now known without a doubt that sugar in

>> your

>> > > food,

>> > > > in all it's myriad of forms, is taking a devastating toll.

>> > > >

>> > > > And fructose in any form -- including high-fructose corn syrup

>> (HFCS) and

>> > > > crystalline fructose -- is the worst of the worst!

>> > > >

>> > > > Fructose is a major contributor to:

>> > > >

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Insulin resistance and obesity

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Elevated blood pressure

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Elevated triglycerides and elevated LDL

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Depletion of vitamins and minerals

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer, arthritis and even

>> gout

>> > > >

>> > > > A Calorie is Not a Calorie

>> > > >

>> > > > Glucose is the form of energy you were designed to run on. Every

>> cell in

>> > > > your body, every bacterium -- and in fact, every living thing on the

>> > > > Earth--uses glucose for energy.

>> > > >

>> > > > If you received your fructose only from vegetables and fruits (where

>> it

>> > > > originates) as most people did a century ago, you'd consume about 15

>> > > grams

>> > > > per day -- a far cry from the 73 grams per day the typical

>> adolescent

>> > > gets

>> > > > from sweetened drinks. In vegetables and fruits, it's mixed in with

>> > > fiber,

>> > > > vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and beneficial phytonutrients, all

>> which

>> > > > moderate any negative metabolic effects.

>> > > >

>> > > > It isn't that fructose itself is bad -- it is the MASSIVE DOSES

>> you're

>> > > > exposed to that make it dangerous.

>> > > >

>> > > > There are two reasons fructose is so damaging:

>> > > >

>> > > > 1.

>> > > >

>> > > > Your body metabolizes fructose in a much different way than glucose.

>> The

>> > > > entire burden of metabolizing fructose falls on your liver.

>> > > > 2.

>> > > >

>> > > > People are consuming fructose in enormous quantities, which has made

>> the

>> > > > negative effects much more profound.

>> > > >

>> > > > Today, 55 percent of sweeteners used in food and beverage

>> manufacturing

>> > > are

>> > > > made from corn, and the number one source of calories in America is

>> soda,

>> > > in

>> > > > the form of HFCS.

>> > > >

>> > > > Food and beverage manufacturers began switching their sweeteners

>> from

>> > > > sucrose (table sugar) to corn syrup in the 1970s when they

>> discovered

>> > > that

>> > > > HFCS was not only far cheaper to make, it's also about 20 times

>> sweeter

>> > > than

>> > > > table sugar.

>> > > >

>> > > > This switch drastically altered the average American diet.

>> > > >

>> > > > By USDA estimates, about one-quarter of the calories consumed by the

>> > > > average American is in the form of added sugars, and most of that is

>> > > HFCS.

>> > > > The average Westerner consumes a staggering 142 pounds a year of

>> sugar!

>> > > And

>> > > > the very products most people rely on to lose weight -- the low-fat

>> diet

>> > > > foods -- are often the ones highest in fructose.

>> > > >

>> > > > Making matters worse, all of the fiber has been removed from these

>> > > > processed foods, so there is essentially no nutritive value at all.

>> > > >

>> > > > Fructose Metabolism Basics

>> > > >

>> > > > Without getting into the very complex biochemistry of carbohydrate

>> > > > metabolism, it is important to understand some differences about how

>> your

>> > > > body handles glucose versus fructose. I will be publishing a major

>> > > article

>> > > > about this in the next couple of months, which will get much more

>> into

>> > > the

>> > > > details, but for our purpose here, I will just summarize the main

>> points.

>> > > >

>> > > > Dr. Lustig Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of

>> > > > Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, has

>> been a

>> > > > pioneer in decoding sugar metabolism. His work has highlighted some

>> major

>> > > > differences in how different sugars are broken down and used:

>> > > >

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > After eating fructose, 100 percent of the metabolic burden rests on

>> your

>> > > > liver. But with glucose, your liver has to break down only 20

>> percent.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Every cell in your body, including your brain, utilizes glucose.

>> > > Therefore,

>> > > > much of it is " burned up " immediately after you consume it. By

>> contrast,

>> > > > fructose is turned into free fatty acids (FFAs), VLDL (the damaging

>> form

>> > > of

>> > > > cholesterol), and triglycerides, which get stored as fat.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > The fatty acids created during fructose metabolism accumulate as fat

>> > > > droplets in your liver and skeletal muscle tissues, causing insulin

>> > > > resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin

>> > > resistance

>> > > > progresses to metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Fructose is the most lipophilic carbohydrate. In other words,

>> fructose

>> > > > converts to activated glycerol (g-3-p), which is directly used to

>> turn

>> > > FFAs

>> > > > into triglycerides. The more g-3-p you have, the more fat you store.

>> > > Glucose

>> > > > does not do this.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is

>> stored as

>> > > > fat. 120 calories of fructose results in 40 calories being stored as

>> fat.

>> > > > Consuming fructose is essentially consuming fat!

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > The metabolism of fructose by your liver creates a long list of

>> waste

>> > > > products and toxins, including a large amount of uric acid, which

>> drives

>> > > up

>> > > > blood pressure and causes gout.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Glucose suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates leptin,

>> > > which

>> > > > suppresses your appetite. Fructose has no effect on ghrelin and

>> > > interferes

>> > > > with your brain's communication with leptin, resulting in

>> overeating.

>> > > >

>> > > > If anyone tries to tell you " sugar is sugar, " they are way behind

>> the

>> > > > times. As you can see, there are major differences in how your body

>> > > > processes each one.

>> > > >

>> > > > The bottom line is: fructose leads to increased belly fat, insulin

>> > > > resistance and metabolic syndrome -- not to mention the long list of

>> > > chronic

>> > > > diseases that directly result.

>> > > >

>> > > > Panic in the Corn Fields

>> > > >

>> > > > As the truth comes out about HFCS, the Corn Refiners Association is

>> > > > scrambling to convince you that their product is equal to table

>> sugar,

>> > > that

>> > > > it is " natural " and safe.

>> > > >

>> > > > Of course, many things are " natural " -- cocaine is natural, but you

>> > > > wouldn't want to use 142 pounds of it each year.

>> > > >

>> > > > The food and beverage industry doesn't want you to realize how truly

>> > > > pervasive HFCS is in your diet -- not just from soft drinks and

>> juices,

>> > > but

>> > > > also in salad dressings and condiments and virtually every processed

>> > > food.

>> > > > The introduction of HFCS into the Western diet in 1975 has been a

>> > > > multi-billion dollar boon for the corn industry.

>> > > >

>> > > > The FDA classifies fructose as GRAS: Generally Regarded As Safe.

>> Which

>> > > > pretty much means nothing and is based on nothing.

>> > > >

>> > > > There is plenty of data showing that fructose is not safe -- but the

>> > > > effects on the nation's health have not been immediate. That is why

>> we

>> > > are

>> > > > just now realizing the effects of the last three decades of

>> nutritional

>> > > > misinformation.

>> > > >

>> > > > As if the negative metabolic effects are not enough, there are other

>> > > issues

>> > > > with fructose that disprove its safety:

>> > > >

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > More than one study has detected unsafe mercury levels in HFCS[ii].

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Crystalline fructose (a super-potent form of fructose the food and

>> > > beverage

>> > > > industry is now using) may contain arsenic, lead, chloride and heavy

>> > > metals.

>> > > > *

>> > > >

>> > > > Nearly all corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn, which

>> comes

>> > > > with its own set of risks.

>> > > >

>> > > > The FDA isn't going to touch sugar, so it's up to you to be

>> proactive

>> > > about

>> > > > your own dietary choices.

>> > > >

>> > > > What's a Sugarholic to Do?

>> > > >

>> > > > Ideally, I recommend that you avoid as much sugar as possible. This

>> is

>> > > > especially important if you are overweight or have diabetes, high

>> > > > cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

>> > > >

>> > > > I also realize we don't live in a perfect world, and following rigid

>> > > > dietary guidelines is not always practical or even possible.

>> > > >

>> > > > If you want to use a sweetener occasionally, this is what I

>> recommend:

>> > > >

>> > > > 1.

>> > > >

>> > > > Use the herb stevia.

>> > > > 2.

>> > > >

>> > > > Use organic cane sugar in moderation.

>> > > > 3.

>> > > >

>> > > > Use organic raw honey in moderation.

>> > > > 4.

>> > > >

>> > > > Avoid ALL artificial sweeteners, which can damage your health even

>> more

>> > > > quickly than fructose.

>> > > > 5.

>> > > >

>> > > > Avoid agave syrup since it is a highly processed sap that is almost

>> all

>> > > > fructose. Your blood sugar will spike just as it would if you were

>> > > consuming

>> > > > regular sugar or HFCS. Agave's meteoric rise in popularity is due to

>> a

>> > > great

>> > > > marketing campaign, but any health benefits present in the original

>> agave

>> > > > plant are processed out.

>> > > > 6.

>> > > >

>> > > > Avoid so-called energy drinks and sports drinks because they are

>> loaded

>> > > > with sugar, sodium and chemical additives. Rehydrating with pure,

>> fresh

>> > > > water is a better choice.

>> > > >

>> > > > If you or your child is involved in athletics, I recommend you read

>> my

>> > > > article Energy Rules for some great tips on how to optimize your

>> child's

>> > > > energy levels and physical performance through good nutrition.

>> > > > Here is the site to read the full article. Cyndi B

>> > > > http://articles.mercola.com/sites/current.aspx

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >