High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is in many foods in today’s society. It’s getting harder to find healthier options for a consumer. High fructose corn syrup is not good for the body. Studies have revealed that use of it can lead to problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Eliminating as much HFCS from the daily food intake is the best way to improve health.
1. Read, Read, Read
One way to help cut down or eliminate HFCS from your daily diet is to look closely and read the labels. Make sure to read labels of foods that are going into the shopping cart. Many foods are deceiving to consumers. Manufacturers make labels this way. If they confuse the shopper, chances are the shopper will still put the food into the cart and purchase it. Look closely and you will be surprised how many products have high fructose corn syrup in them. Here are some examples of foods that one would probably consider healthy, but actually contain HFCS:
- Kid sized yogurts
- Breakfast bars
- Fruit snacks
- Breads
- Ketchups
- Processed meats, like sausage and ham.
2. Choose Wisely
When grocery shopping, choose wisely. Fill up your cart with more natural foods. The more processed the product, the worse for the body. When picking products that appear more naturally made, just remember to still read labels. The FDA is allowing companies to put “natural” on their advertising, even when high fructose corn syrup is included as an ingredient. The best option is to pick up foods that are organic in nature. Foods that are labeled organic can be thought of as safe from high fructose corn syrup. The FDA has states that the product cannot have the corn syrup in them and be listed as organic.
3. Avoid Sodas, Juice Boxes and Sports Drinks
Most sodas, juices or sports drinks have HFCS in them. Make sure to look at the labels closely. If soda is a must, opt for ones that use real sugar or artificial sweeteners and not the corn syrup. During Passover, Coke makes a very special version that contains artificial sweeteners. These yellow capped bottles are produced for the Jewish population who are restricted from eating corn during this time. They do not have high fructose corn syrup in them.
4. Eliminate Fast Food
Cutting fast food from a daily diet is an easy way to eliminate high fructose corn syrup. At McDonald’s for example, high fructose corn syrup is in every menu item, and that even includes the croutons for the salads. Instead of figuring out what does not have the corn syrup in it at the fast food restaurants, it’s best to just avoid them altogether.
Cutting high fructose corn syrup from foods is the best way to improve health. Reading labels very closely is key. Manufacturers are making it more difficult to pick out healthy foods. Go organic. It’s healthier and may cost a little bit more, but the old saying is true, cheaper is not always better. In this case, it truly is not better for your health.
