KTK-Nutrition

Recently a student asked me if high fructose corn syrup was something to avoid.    Good question as there is so much being written about high fructose corn syrup.   If you watch the commercials sponsored by the high fructose corn syrup industry, all is well and there is no difference between sugar and high fructose corn syrup.   Others have renounced high fructose corn syrup almost from day one.   So what do some of the experts have to say about high fructose corn syrup? Is high fructose corn syrup the same as sugar? Actually, no.   Table sugar is about half fructose and half glucose.   High fructose corn syrup has a higher ratio of fructose to glucose having 55- 65% fructose and the rest glucose.    Does the higher fructose content of high fructose corn syrup cause health problems?     Some studies are indicating, YES.   The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that beverages sweetened with high fructose...

 How many of us say we are going to get healthier?   We will start going to the gym, we will start eating healthier.   But then it never happens.   The September 2015 issue of the Berkeley Wellness Letter has some suggestions for not only changing habits, but changing them for good.   The article is based on James Prochaska, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island.   Over 30 years ago, he proposed stages of changing our habits.   If you follow these stages, suggestions, you should have better success in changing bad habits to good habits.   Studies have found that changing behavior doesn’t happen overnight but it is a process and we can improve our odds of making changes permanent and a “habit” that lasts.        What are the 5 stages?    Precontemplation – yes, you have to decide to change a habit – to get off the couch, to cut back or eliminate the sugared sodas, to go for a walk e...

If you listen to the commercials, high fructose corn syrup is the same as white table sugar and has no adverse health consequences.   But is that true?   For years now, I just try to avoid foods that have high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient.   Not easy to do as manufacturers love to sneak this sugar into everything from bread to catsup.   Many manufacturers know there are consumers that are like me and try to avoid high fructose corn syrup so they make a catsup without it then charge more. Why high fructose corn syrup?   Manufacturers love it as it is easy to ship, has a long shelf life and is cheaper than sugar.    It improves the texture of cookies, and browns better in breads.      What is HCFS?   It is comprised of fructose and glucose and manufacturers use it in place of sugar.   It has the same caloric value of sugar, 4 calories per gram. Is HCFS Bad for our Health?   Many researchers would say no but mo...

Why did Senator Monning introduce this bill?   He notes that research has shown a link between sugary drinks and health problems.     The California branch of the American Beverage Association is not apparently in support of the proposed legislation.   They note sugar drinks account for only 6% of our calories.   However, medical groups counter this by saying sugary drinks are a large share of our added sugar calories.    According to medical groups, one soda a day boosts an adult’s changes of being overweight by 27% and a child’s by 55%, and it can increase the risk of diabetes by 26%.    ( California lawmaker proposes adding health warning labels to sodas ).    Regardless of whether or not sugary drinks come with warning labels, everyone should focus on reducing the ADDED sugars in our diet.   Note it is the sugar added to foods, not sugar naturally present in foods.    Fresh fruits have fructose, a sugar,...