High Fructose Corn Syrup

People ask me about high fructose corn syrup fairly regularly. They want to know if it's worse for us than regular sugar and how it impacts weight management. Interestingly, recent consumer research showed that in the past 6 months, out of consumers surveyed, 37% limited or avoided calories, 20% were watching fats and oils, and 17% were cutting back on products with sugar or added sugar, while only 4% were monitoring high fructose corn syrup. Check out http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/research-consumers-more-concerned-fat-calorie-intake-high-fructose-corn-syrup

I am surprised by the lower percentage of people who are concerned with high fructose corn syrup because it's such a hot topic right now. Food manufacturers have begun to respond to demand for "no high fructose corn syrup" products so it will be interesting to see what happens to its consumption in the U.S. over the next few years.

Have you been trying to reduce your intake of high fructose corn syrup?

Cutting Back on Sugar?

I frequently hear people say that they are trying to "cut back on sugar" or that they "don't eat sugar." I often wonder exactly what they mean when they say, "sugar." A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that Americans cut back on added sugar in a study period during 2007-2008 as compared to a study of added sugar intake between 1999-2000.

The "typical" American diet contained 100 grams of added sugar in '99-'00 versus 77 grams in '07-'08. The study says that the decrease is primarily from a reduction in sodas and sugary beverages.

http://www.ajcn.org/content/early/2011/07/13/ajcn.111.018366

I'd say that that's good news for Americans but unfortunately rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses continue to climb.

Even still, choosing beverages without added sugars such as water, milk, 100% juice or freshly squeezed juices, teas, coffees is better for you than choosing sugary beverages, sodas, "juice drinks," and highly sugared tea and coffee specialty drinks. But keep in mind that added sugar is just one part of the nutrition puzzle. Having an occasional iced cold cola with some salty peanuts is one of my favorite treats - and there is some serious sugar in that cola! But it's worth it and put into the larger scope of a balanced diet, it's an ok thing to do.

Trying to figure out the nutrition puzzle? Let me know your questions!

Becky at rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu