Avoiding High Fructose Corn-Syrup

Money and convenience are driving the High Fructose Corn Syrup industry into controlling the majority of our society. HFCS is extremely addictive, extends the expiration date of foods for a “low” price, while still maintaining a great taste.

But is the low monetary cost worth it?

Looking at the history of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup from a bio-cultural perspective gives a lot of insight into American culture. Corn syrup weaved its way into our structural DNA and we didn’t even realize it.  It is crazy to think about how many products that have high-fructose corn syrup in them, even things I would’ve never imagined. Growing up, I didn’t know better, I would be drinking fruit juice and eating applesauce thinking I was making healthy decisions but really the main ingredient was HFCS. People know about corn syrup, but I don’t think most of the population knows the extent of it. I’m surprised about all the different foods you can find corn syrup in such as bread, peanut butter, pasta sauce, salad dressing, cereals, yogurt, granola bars, etc. I’ve passed fields and fields of corn, thinking oh! sweet corn, but in reality, it’s generally for corn-syrup. It is so embedded in the diets of America’s whole population that it has made a huge impact resulting in adverse health problems such as obesity, and type 2 diabetes. 

Meanwhile the corporations behind it are making an un-proportionate amount of money because it is so cheap to make. Unfortunately, the industry is hurting the environment with vast monoculture farms and unsustainable farming practices. They are suppling and supporting the cattle industry with the grain to feed the cows, even though that is not what they are meant to eat. The issue has been touched on in movies like Super Size Me, but there needs to be a bigger emphasis on the damage it truly is doing to our whole system; internally to our bodies and externally to the Earth. 

Avoiding corn-syrup and cane sugar isn’t easy. But here are some alternatives to look for- cassava sweetener, coconut sugar, agave syrup, maple syrup, date sugar, and honey.

Coconut sugar actually has nutrients like zinc, iron, antioxidants and even inulin which is a type of dietary fiber that acts as a prebiotic feeding your intestinal bifidobacteria (a probiotic). Inulins are known to support gut health and help with blood sugar balance. 

Agave syrup from cactus is recommended but often times the processing compromises its carbohydrate structure.

Date sugar is whole dates dried and grounded, keeping all nutrients intact. I love adding even whole dates to my smoothies for a sweet touch!

Monk fruit is new on the shelves here in the U.S. Monk fruit has been used for centuries in China and is actually technically sweeter than cane sugar but with no effects on blood sugar. It is actually packed with antioxidants It’s coined the longevity fruit & the buddha fruit. You can find the monk fruit dried at your local Chinese market. If you find it already as a sweetener product make sure to check the ingredient list for questionable add-ins like molasses and erythritol!

Try to support a local sustainable beekeeper if you are going to invest in honey. Realize honey is not Vegan, most of the honey being sold at the grocery stores have been harvested in exploited ways that are harmful to the bees. Some of the honey brands even add fructose and other things to it.

While searching for the right sweet remedy for you remember I wouldn’t consider them necessarily healthy but if you have a sweet tooth it’s a much more health-conscious decision rather than HFCS and cane sugar. Moderation is key here! Look for real recognizable ingredients, NON-GMO, with nothing questionably artificial; like harmful additives. My suggested alternatives have a lower glycemic index than cane sugar and fructose.

 

IMPORTANT: Always be wary of your sourcing. Strive for fair trade sources. The sweet industry has taken quite a toll on Mother Earth. It is important to support local, so check out what your local farmers market first! But remember farmers market doesn’t necessarily mean local, they may just be bottling up nice and having it come in from far away.