HFCS - Making Americans Obese?

[Joshua_me]

If you shop at a higher-end store like Whole Foods,

All the cruising rich old men at my Whole Foods would LUV you, Jasun....

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

All the cruising rich old men at my Whole Foods would LUV you, Jasun....

You realize you just described me, right?

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Thats Right, Jasun, some of us just can't afford the higher end foodstuff as we get reduced foodstamps and are very limited in income.

I get that. There are many more choices open to people who can afford more.

I still remember living on a very tight budget and my husband and I could go to Kensington Market and spend a whole day grocery shopping at all the small stores. I still tried to eat healthy and I still tried to eat well, but it was a lot harder.

 

[MoltenRock III]

If you shop at a higher-end store like Whole Foods, there are no products with HFCS or Trans Fats, Sucralose, crystalline Fructose or any of those other fucked up ingredients.

but it's not affordable for most. It's why a lot of people just resign themselves to being fat.

Whole Foods doesn't have the nickname "Whole Paychecks" for nothing. I love Whole Foods, but I personally shop more at the local farmer's market every Saturday, and Trader Joe's when I'm back in America. Frankly, no store can compete with my short walk (1 1/2 blocks) to the farmer's market, where I get freshly picked tomatoes, strawberries, cukes, squash, lettuce, raspberries, and the like in addition to my organic eggs, and all of it is better than the supermarket for less money! For $35 I get a TON of fresh produce that lasts me all week.

For organic, free range, local meat, I do have to drive 39 miles over to Wisconsin to get beef, bison, chicken, and turkey. I eat meat less and less, and probably only eat it once a week on average these days.

 

[Hot White Trash]

I shop on sale and do my best. I buy only fruit on sale. You can get a lot if you use coupons and sales.

I can't imagine driving 9 miles much less 39 miles to get some groceries - you burn up the difference in gas and time. But then I bike everywhere so driving 39 miles might send me into a fit.

 

[NVRMOR]

I think its the constant snacking and lack of exercise making Americans fat.

 

[Hot White Trash]

Just thought I'd share this article that addresses the issue some raised about how eating nothing but oranges (or any fruit) can be just as big a problem as drinking a bunch of sodas. The problem is fructose, which is in fruit and veggies although in low amounts. Too much fructose can overwhelm our system and the body responds by converting all the excess fructose to fat. So yes, eating 50 oranges a day can make you real fat.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071212201311.htm

 

[EasyRory]

That's absurd. Corn has been a staple for Native Americans for centuries. In its natural form, it's healthy.

In it's natural form corn is a little fiber and a lot of starch that converts readily to sugar. There are better ways to get fiber without the sugar.

The result of excessive sugar gets nastier with age. The American Indians' life expectancy in the 18th Century was about 40; they didn't live long enough to be affected.

 

[Willie Boy]

True! Corn is a healthy enough substance in reasonable amounts.

The HFC problem isn't that it's corn. It's an altered corn-product.

Agreed. Its when scientists try to play God and try to "improve" or recreate what doesn't need it.

Don't forget about modified cor starch, hydrogenated (or partially hydrogenated) corn oil, as well as the vegetable varieties.

 

[levenshulme31]

Easily done? I don't think so. Wouldn't someone become physically ill from all of the dietary fiber and the acid from consuming so many oranges, not to mention the unbalanced diet?[/QUOTE]

You misunderstand - I was saying it easy to binge on 'healthy foods' - Too much food is too much food whether it is McDonalds or fruit.

 

[EasyRory]

Corn is a very nutritious vegetable and a whole grain. As long as one is not allergic or indulges in a corn binge, there shouldn't be any health problems from its consumption.

Corn is relatively poor in nutritional value and relatively HIGH in sugar.

Staple Synopsis Amaranth Wheat Rice Sweetcorn Potato
Component (per 100g portion)
water (g) 11 11 12 76 82
energy (kJ) 1554 1506 1527 360 288
protein (g) 14 23 7 3 1.7
fat (g) 7 10 1 1 0.1
carbohydrates (g) 65 52 79 19 16
fiber (g) 7 13 1 3 2.4
sugars (g) 1.7 0.1 >0.1 3 1.2
iron (mg) 7.6 6.3 0.8 0.5 0.5
manganese (mg) 3.4 13.3 1.1 0.2 0.1
calcium (mg) 159 39 28 2 9
magnesium (mg) 248 239 25 37 21
phosphorus (mg) 557 842 115 89 62
potassium (mg) 508 892 115 270 407
zinc (mg) 2.9 12.3 1.1 0.5 0.3
panthothenic acid (mg) 1.5 0.1 1.0 0.7 0.3
vitB6 (mg) 0.6 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.2
folate (µg) 82 281 8 42 18
thiamin (mg) 0.1 1.9 0.1 0.2 0.1
riboflavin (mg) 0.2 0.5 >0.1 0.1 >0.1
niacin (mg) 0.9 6.8 1.6 1.8 1.1

Hard to read, but I have underlined the corn values. If you had a choice for a grain, you wouldn't pick corn.

 

[Hot White Trash]

Corn is relatively poor in nutritional value and relatively HIGH in sugar.

Staple Synopsis Amaranth Wheat Rice Sweetcorn Potato
Component (per 100g portion)
water (g) 11 11 12 76 82
energy (kJ) 1554 1506 1527 360 288
protein (g) 14 23 7 3 1.7
fat (g) 7 10 1 1 0.1
carbohydrates (g) 65 52 79 19 16
fiber (g) 7 13 1 3 2.4
sugars (g) 1.7 0.1 >0.1 3 1.2
iron (mg) 7.6 6.3 0.8 0.5 0.5
manganese (mg) 3.4 13.3 1.1 0.2 0.1
calcium (mg) 159 39 28 2 9
magnesium (mg) 248 239 25 37 21
phosphorus (mg) 557 842 115 89 62
potassium (mg) 508 892 115 270 407
zinc (mg) 2.9 12.3 1.1 0.5 0.3
panthothenic acid (mg) 1.5 0.1 1.0 0.7 0.3
vitB6 (mg) 0.6 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.2
folate (µg) 82 281 8 42 18
thiamin (mg) 0.1 1.9 0.1 0.2 0.1
riboflavin (mg) 0.2 0.5 >0.1 0.1 >0.1
niacin (mg) 0.9 6.8 1.6 1.8 1.1

Hard to read, but I have underlined the corn values. If you had a choice for a grain, you wouldn't pick corn.

No offense intended, but its not really a matter of one grain or another. For instance, you might use corn for certain recipes that other grains would not be good for. Its also about what grains are cheap and available.

 

[EasyRory]

No offense intended, but its not really a matter of one grain or another. For instance, you might use corn for certain recipes that other grains would not be good for. Its also about what grains are cheap and available.

OK, but Travisevian said it was great and as justification that the American Indians used it. They didn't have a choice.

Corn in moderation isn't necessarily bad for you. It's just not very good in itself (see the nutrition numbers); and not very good at all if it's all you have.

It is very good for fattening hogs and cattle, however.