I want to know why high fructose corn syrup is added to almost all foods. I've been checking ingredient labels on the foods I have in my fridge and pantry and have seen it listed as the very first or one of the first ingredients. I know it's very unhealthy, so why is it added?
2007-02-16 05:48:04 · 6 answers · asked by newmommie 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
It's cheap, and our government pays farm subsidies on corn, so it's even cheaper! And because it's made from corn, food makers can get away with calling it "natural" Besides, Americans eat from a "dollar menu" so we don't expect high quality, nutritious food--we want it fast and cheap... and we want drugs to correct the damage it does.
2007-02-16 05:57:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not unavoidable. But you do have to be careful and read ingredient lists. Dont' worry, it does get frustrating but it is really worth it because HFC syrup has no nutritional benefits whatsoever and it has a worse effect on your body than sugar does. Just give yourself more time at the grocery store to look at ingredient lists. There are granola bars, cereals, yogurts.... versions of everything with no HFC syrup. A great yogurt is Stonyfield Yogurt. Nature Valley Granola bars have none either! Another thing to do is start making more of your own foods. You can make great homemade granola bars and snack bars and control the ingredients. Get a good cereal that you like that doesn't have HFC's. Crush up 3 cups of cereal. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup peanut butter and add 1/2 cup honey. Pour this over the crushed cereal and add any mix-ins that you like (chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc). Mix it well, then press into a bake pan and refrigerate until cool. You can cut out the bars after they've hardened.
2016-05-24 07:12:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was a time when Sugar became very expensive and the food companies learned they could use corn syrup which was very cheap ( look at all the corn grown in the US ). Then they developed a way to make the Corn Syrup really sweet so that they didn't have to use as much ( That is the High Fructose Corn Syrup ) which makes using it very very cheap. The food companies do not care about health, they care about profits and by using HFCS they can make a killing on their products.
2007-02-16 06:20:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a cheap source of "sweetener". People have no idea how much sugar we are really taking in through these hidden sugars. We can easily become addicted to sugar, and the processed food industry knows this. The more we eat, the more we want.
Good for you for reading the labels.
Go for fresh foods anytime you can!
2007-02-16 05:54:45 · answer #4 · answered by diannegoodwin@sbcglobal.net 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because it's cheap and it makes the food taste good.
2007-02-16 05:53:38 · answer #5 · answered by A M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It keeps you hungry so you can eat more of the product.
2007-02-16 05:56:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋