Farmers' sweet deal makes for fat Americans [Corn syrup vs sugar]

Newark Star Ledger ^ | 4/17/03 | Paul Mulshine

[Incorrigible]

When it comes to caffeine sources, I prefer coffee. But every once in a while I have a can of cola.

I don't like it, however. It gives me the jitters. I drank a can the other day and shortly afterward I felt dizzy and lightheaded.

[Incorrigible]

I'm not a big side-of-the-box reader but I have wondered about this high fructose corn syrup.  Now I know.

[mvpel]

There was an article on this subject in this month's Men's Health magazine, too. They didn't mention the Congressional factor, though - I was left with the impression that HFCS was inherently cheaper than sugar.

[mtbopfuyn]

I drank a can the other day and shortly afterward I felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Bet it's not the corn syrup but more likely the aspartaime if it was diet. That is nasty stuff. Makes me dizzy and lightheaded too, and causes my hair to fall out. Just a word of warning.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Stick with aspartame, at least you can't see the lesions on your brain :)(that story is an internet hoax, btw)

[Hodar]

The calories in fructose don't seem to trigger the normal response that tells you you've had enough to eat. This can lead you to consume too much of it.

I've noticed this too. I love a choc. malt. But, when I go to order them at the various shops, I get a large and almost want to order a 2nd. They simply don't make me feel 'full'. When I make my homemade ice cream, I'm satisfied with just 1 glass. I simply can't eat more. Now, I understand why.

[Post Toasties]

Fructose is the naturally occurring sugar in fruit, if I recall correctly, and has a slightly different chemical composition than the sugar used in candy. That said, I don't think I personally have the negative reaction to it the author has, but I'm trying to cut down on sugar generally as I get older because I don't want to encourage diabetes, etc.

[nepdap]

http://www.michaelh.com/other/drpep.shtml is one link that shows where we in Texas can still buy our Dr. Pepper with sugar, not corn syrup. You have to check the label carefully, though, to make sure what you're getting.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Sorry, but I don't take my Food Chemistry from left wing columnists. Sucrose is a Di-Saccharide, meaning that it is composed of 2 sugars, they are Dextrose and Fructose. Honey is also a high Fructose syrup, and we all know how dangerous Honey is.....

High Fructose syrups were developed to provide a lower cost sweetener alternative that was made from US Corn, rather than the price supported Sugar.

Methinks his dizziness comes naturally, being a Star Ledger reporter!

[grania]

You have to check the label carefully, though, to make sure what you're getting.

I've been onto the high fructose corn syrup thing for years...it totally messes up my digestion. Checking labels becomes a full time occupation. Even breads labelled as "100% whole wheat bread" often contain the stuff. I often end up buying imported chocolate, tomato sauces, vegetables, etc, as the only way to avoid it. And, you have to read the label every time you buy something; it's amazing how often I'll find a food, then the ingredients will be changed.

Actually, I'm having fun with this article. Most of my friends kind of brush off my conspiracy theory mentality. Now, they'll listen up!! <^..^>

[Willie Green]

"Americans should have a choice, and our current laws just don't give them a choice," says Dan Griswold, a trade policy expert with the Cato Institute in Washington. "If you want a sweetener at an affordable price, then you're stuck with high-fructose corn syrup."

Here is the "choice" that the Cato Institute would prefer: China Rivals World's Top Corn Exporters

[Alex Murphy]

Tin foil hat alert!

This "hey they switched my sugar with corn syrup" thing came up during the Coke/New Coke debacle of the mid-eighties. Some alleged Coke actually introduced New Coke with this in mind. The conspiracy theorized New Coke was a solely a ploy to pull original Coke off the market long enough to cover up a formula change from sugar to corn syrup.

Waddya wanna bet this is more a war between farmers over sugar beet and corn subsidies?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[stanz]

Why don't those people concerned about weight, diabetes and general health just stay away from soda? We should all drink more water or pure watered-down fruit juices anyway.

[PoisedWoman]

Too bad those workers didn't have the clout in Congress that Archer-Daniels Midland has. That agribusiness giant lobbies to keep sugar prices high

Ah, good old ADM again. That lousy company is always in Cuba buddying up to Castro for trade agreements. They were behind the outrageous return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuba. They are the largest contributor to the nasty National Council of Churches, who arranged Elian's departure.

[PoisedWoman]

Agree, food companies slip corn syrup into everything, even frozen green beans. You have to watch every label to avoid the junk. This writer has a very interesting theory about it's causing the obesity epidemic....he may be correct. With corn syrup added to every product, we're developing a sweet tooth without ever knowing why.

[ricpic]

Is it possible that the body reacts differently, and possibly adversely, to Sucrose (a combination of Dextrose and Fructose) than it does to the simpler Fructose? Not a chemist. Just wondering.

[farmfriend]

farm ping

[sinkspur]

This writer has a very interesting theory about it's causing the obesity epidemic....he may be correct. With corn syrup added to every product, we're developing a sweet tooth without ever knowing why.

Carbohydrates, especially the processed kind, are broken down in the body the same way fructose is.

The problem is the amount of carbs one eats, not just fructose or sugar.

[Incorrigible]

Paul Mulshine a liberal??!!  The hell he is! :-)

He's the token conservative at the Star Ledger and his common sense free market ideals crush the pretenders.

Here's some of his previous columns:

Paul Mulshine

[doc30]

I read the Men's Health article and it was quite interesting. Do you know what the bglycemic index of high fructose corn syrup is compared to sugar? I don't know what it is, but I believe that it is quite a bit higher than sugar. THis is an interesting, but important point since it relates to type II diabetes. HFCS gets absorbed more quickly that regular sugar and causes a proportionately greater insulin spike which can lead to more efficient fat formation (i.e. weigh gain). In other words, the energy from HFCS is made available to the body in an intense spike, but sugar energy has a broader time frame.