Raising Awareness about High Fructose Corn Syrup

Some have called high fructose corn syrup “the new trans fat”, referring to the public’s new found awareness of an ingredient found in many popular snack foods. And, as with the push to make the public more aware of the dangers posed by trans fat, some health officials are now devoting their time and energy to building the public’s awareness of high fructose corn syrup. However, as with trans fat, this battle may be harder to win than you might think, and many food companies are not taking this lightly. YoNaturals does not provide any snacks or drinks that contain this sugary ingredient.

To build your own awareness, take a look at the ingredient list found on the box of your favorite food. If you don’t see high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) listed there as one of the key components, then you can count yourself as one member of a small group of Americans. As more people become aware of the dangers posed by HFCS, many people are learning that their favorite foods are among the worst offenders. In fact, HFCS is a very common ingredient that is used in all kinds of foods (ranging from cookies and cereals to salad dressings and soups). From top to bottom, there are few Americans who have a HFCS-free stock of food in their kitchen. That said, HFCS is something that people should (and could) consider living without.

Even as the general public has become more aware of the health epidemics that are related to weight gain, there are some that simply refuse to acknowledge that excessive weight gain is a problem for Americans in general. Or that it’s a problem that is related to not only how much we eat but also to the kinds of foods that we eat. And it is precisely these problems that are the focus of a new movement among health professionals interested in making people more aware of the ingredients that go into their favorite foods.

In an effort to rebrand HFCS, some nutritionists have even said that it is like a drug, linking it to the oft-talked about “sugar rush” and the declines that inevitably follow these sudden spikes in energy. However, others have suggested that HFCS is no worse than table sugar and that (like table sugar) the only danger is in eating too much of it. Research that is able to definitely silence one side or the other may be months or even years away, but it is probably safe to say for now that HFCS should be avoided when possible. And as with trans fat, for now it is up to the consumer to decide if eating HFCS-containing foods is in his or her best interest.

For people who are concerned with HFCS and other ingredients found in highly processed food, YoNaturals vending machines are their links to better diets. Offering 100% natural and organic snack foods, YoNaturals can be your choice for both good snacks and good health too.

~ by yonaturals on November 14, 2008.