Comments on: Children of the Corn

By: Rockinon

Rockinon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:10:18 +0000

I read your reply. Nice. Now, about dunking your future kids . . .

Cheers!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:06:04 +0000

Hi Rockinon,

Thanks for the comment. I’m not an expert on this by any means, but it’s my understanding that both table sugar and HFCS have fructose in them (and about the same amount). It’s just bound with the glucose differently.

So yeah, maybe we should cut down on fructose, but cutting down on HFCS specifically won’t accomplish that. Rather, we should cut down on ALL sugars. And more generally, all high-calorie foods.

I think the major threat is obesity. That’s more about how much we eat (calories in – calories out) than what we eat.

I wouldn’t give a 100% all-clear signal either, but unless I see good research showing dangers specific to HFCS, I’m not gonna worry about it.

By: Rockinon

Rockinon — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:46:28 +0000

I was searching for some info I had read in a health letter from the University of California and came across your post stating: “Of course, the truth is that high fructose corn syrup is just like any other sugar . . . ”

The truth is maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. From the Wellness Letter: “Words to the wise: If you consume lots of HFCS-sweetened soft drinks and foods, or lots of any type of added sugar, cut down. Even though the jury is still out as to whether HFCS is significantly worse than sucrose, if you cut down on foods and drinks that contain it, you’ll almost inevitably improve your diet.

Why do they say this? ” . . . unlike glucose, fructose is mostly broken down in the liver, where it can affect the production of various lipids (fats and related substances). Human as well as animal studies suggest that high levels of fructose can contribute to cardiovascular disease by boosting triglycerides (fats in the blood), lowering HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and increasing levels of smaller, more harmful LDL (“bad”) cholesterol particles.”

With high fructose intake linked to kidney and liver disease, high blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and more I wouldn’t be pushing HFCS, or any other sugar in large amounts, at my children.

The voting still out on HFCS. It is a little early to give them the all clear signal. http://www.wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2008/wlFeatured0808.html

Cheers,
Rockinon

p.s. The above is not to be construed as to mean I don’t agree with you about the commercial. Like far too many ads, it was inane. It was good that your post focused attention on that fact.