Useful extras
June 01, 2009
Eat less HFCS
Challenge Yourself for: 24 Hours
In a year, the average American eats close to their body weight in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and refined sugar. Yikes! The easiest way to avoid this highly processed, nutrition-lacking ingredient? Steer clear of highly processed foods, period. And read labels. Better yet, add your own sweetener to foods. (Just make sure you adjust the amount you’re substituting in based on package directions; some sweeteners are more or less sweet than others, or affect baking.) Today, challenge yourself to start purging HFCS from your diet and begin replacing it with honey, agave nectar, or Sucanat instead.
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56 comments
As of October 2008, I began purging HFCS from my family’s menu. I read labels for everything I buy to ensure it is not an ingredient used.
Corn Syrup is used virtually in all products. Ask a person who has a food allergy. I believe each person should have tests for allergic reactions.
I started eliminating HFCS from my diet 3 months ago and I feel great. Kashi products are great!
Corn Syrup is in everything – how is a person to find alternative products on a reduced budget – eating healthy is expensive…..
I read every label…it IS in everything! But, I try hard to not allow it in my house. I LOVE Kashi Foods!!!
I’ve been reading labels all along now, and it’s very difficult to find products without hfcs.
I love how Kashi doesn’t ever have HFCS in ANYTHING! That’s one reason I love it so much. I also enjoy Bear Naked Fit granolas and ClifBar protein bars because they are also all-natural. I wish Kashi would make frozen veggie burgers/breakfasts because the other brands are all extremely processed.
For those that believe eating expensive is healthy: yes and no. If you expect to buy a lot of prepackaged and processed food, then it will be pricier. That is true for any diet.
Want to avoid HFCS and additives? Eat more natural foods like fruits and veg. Processed and preserved foods are always going to contain a lot of additives and not so good for you ingredients.
I never buy foods with HFCS in them. It doesn’t do the body good, and there are so many good alternatives. You really have to be a diligent product reader, however, to avoid this ubiquitous sweetener.
I bake with fruit purees instead of butter. Don’t worry my muffins and cookies taste just as good as the bad for you ones! Check them out! http://stephchows.blogspot.com/
I wont eat freely eat anything with HFCs in them. Thats why I’m glad kashi has foods without them. They are much better for you than the other granola bar or cereal.
For about two years now about 99% of my drinks have been HFCS free, but I’m not doing so well all the time watching out for it in foods. A big plus to help spread the word is that bad breath almost entirely disappears. All my juices are 100% juice with no additives (and juice is almost the only thing I drink since becoming lactose intolerant.)
As for refined sugars… I’m not doing so great on that front. Frequently fall off the bandwagon. (It’s amazing how many typical foods add sugar.) Candy is even pretty much non-existent in my diet.
Best wishes to everyone who is struggling too in changing the way you eat. Kudos to those who have been successful! :-)
My family and I haven’t eaten HFCS or htydrogenated oils for over 7 years now. It’s simple eat only all natural unprocessed foods. As your cabinets and fridges empyty out only replinish with foods that don’t contain the yucky stuff!
MY HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES. SO I SET OUT TO CLEAN OUT MY CABINETS. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY FOODS CONTAIN HFC.ANYWAY WE HAVE STARTED A HEALTHIER LIFE STYLE MY SON HUSBAND AND MYSELF ACTUALLY FELT ILL FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING RID OF ALL THE PROCESSED FOOD AND SUGARS.WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE SAME REACTION TO GETTING OF PROCESSED AND GETTING OTO NATURAL FOODS.
I never realized that most of the foods that I thought were healthy all contained HFCS. I have started by just eliminating most crackers and really reading labels in stores before I buy, then putting them back on the shelf.
I haven’t bought anything with HFCS for two weeks. It’s not easy but I know what’s in my food now.
I make sure to buy fruit preserves without HFCS. I rarely eat anything with it anymore, if I can avoid it. I usually eat Kashi cereal and crackers. And drinking soda is a rarity for me. I only drink it when I go to the movies, which is not often.
A couple of years ago, my fiance and I cut HFCS completely out of our diet all at once and the effects were intense. It was quite literally like coming off a drug: insomnia, strong headaches, gastrointestinal issues…for about 2 or 3 weeks. Our bodies slowly adjusted to more natural foods and we felt much better. THEN, we went on a road trip and made the mistake of stopping for fast food: burger, fries, and cola. It was like a stomach virus hit us within minutes of leaving the restaurant. It’s amazing what we’ve slowly become accustomed to doing to our bodies!
My teenage daughter and I have cut out HFCS for over a year now. We are constantly reading labels… Since HFCS has been cut from our daily diet there has been a big difference in our engery level. My teenage daughter is also educating her friends about how they too should avoid HFC & why. As a mom I am very proud that my duaghter cares about her health & nutritional intake…
TO: Lisa33810-I stopped drinking any form of soda 10 years ago and noticed instantly how much better I felt…I also lost 12 pounds in 10 days!!!! (I was drinking 24-36 oz. a DAY of soda, previously.) Good luck to you and your husband on getting to a good stage of food intake for the diabetic way of life! :)