High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is commonly used to sweeten and extend the shelf life of processed foods and drinks. It is produced when the glucose (sugar) in cornstarch is converted into a sugar form known as fructose. It is then mixed with 100 percent corn syrup to create a combined sweet product. Although (as of 2010) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deems it safe for consumption, many critics claim that it is laced with a toxic ability to affect normal appetite and weight. Regardless, consuming too much of any sweetened and processed food packs on empty calories and contributes to a person's risk of developing health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Know what types of foods contain HFCS to make an well-informed decision the next time you are at the store.
Pre-Packaged Baked Goods
Most of the confections in the aisle full of pre-packaged cookies and crackers such as Nabisco Ritz Bits, Oreos and Teddy Grahams, contain HFCS. Even the seemingly innocuous 100-Calorie snack packs and reduced fat Wheat Thins are made with HFCS. Take a jaunt over to the cereal aisle and you will also notice that Nutri-Grain bars and Kellogg's Pop-Tarts are sweetened with the stuff. If you want to avoid HFCS altogether, bake your own treats with table sugar or visit health food stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to find naturally sweetened treats.
Jams, Jellies, Syrups
You will likely find HFCS as one of the top few ingredients of many jams, jellies, and syrups at a regular grocery store. Eggo pancake syrup, Hershey's chocolate syrup, Knott's boysenberry preserves, and Smucker's grape jelly are just a few examples of toppings sweetened with HFCS. As with the tip in the previous section, stick to health food stores if you want to find a wide selection of toppings that aren't loaded with HFCS. Alternately, you may be able to find a jar of "natural preserves" that doesn't list HFCS as an ingredient.
Soda
Certainly you already know that soda is full of sugar. What you may not know is that almost every regular soda you find at the grocery store is loaded with HFCS. U.S.-produced Coca-Cola, A&W Rootbeer, Pepsi and Sprite are just some examples of sodas sweetened with it. Since soda contains no redeeming qualities beyond taste, your health would fare better if you ditched drinking it altogether. If don't want to consume HFCS but you find that you can drink soda as an occasional treat without becoming hooked, consider drinking Mexican Coca-Cola (sweetened only with sugar,) Hansen's, Jones and Jarrito's sodas.
Dairy
Take a walk down the ice cream aisle and you probably already know you're in trouble. Labels like "extra creamy double fudge" don't exactly scream "Good for you!" What's more, most of them also happen to be made with HFCS. Some examples include Dreyer's Dulce de Leche and Cookies 'N Cream as well as some Ben & Jerry's flavors (e.g. Cherry Garcia.) HFCS isn't just in ice cream, it is also in some yogurt such as Yoplait flavors and the Breyer's fruit-on-the-bottom variety. For cold and creamy treat without HFCS, opt to eat Breyer's All Natural Ice Cream or Dannon All Natural Vanilla yogurt.
Fruits and Vegetables
You may not even think to check labels of canned fruits and vegetables. After all, they should be all-natural, right? Not always. Claussen sweet gherkin pickles, Del Monte canned petite diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings, Mott's applesauce and many canned fruits in heavy syrup all contain HFCS. Look carefully at labels to find fruits and vegetables that contain very little HFCS or added sugar of any sort.
Member Comments