October 28, 2009 by mtores
The food industry has created a range of products that have made cooking more convenient for our fast pace lifestyle. At the same time some products are not healthy often causing an illness that sometimes consumers are unaware of the source of their ailment. Once you discover the origins you are able to curtail the consumption or eliminate it completely from your diet. This is the case of corn syrup, which is a food product that if taken in excess may cause overweight or diabetes. Among the products that have corn syrup are juices, ice creams, cakes, soft drinks, and tomato sauces.When I go to the supermarket I usually read the labels for any allergy causing ingredients or sweeteners. Can fruits is one of the products packaged with corn syrup, but there is a better alternative. When I buy canned pineapple, I always purchase the one that is packaged with its natural juices. It is doesn’t contain the overly sweet candy taste and the fruit has enzymes that aid your digestion.
The makers of the documentary King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis show us how corn is produced and tracks how many products have corn as one of their ingredients. The partof documentary that drew my attention was the making of high fructose corn syrup. Ian and Curt try to demonstrate how high fructose corn syrup is made. They make some inquiries regarding the ingredients in HFSC and among the ingredients is sulfuric acid, a highly corrosive chemical which is added to the mix. The package of sulfuric acid has a skull and cross bones. Although the movie is very interesting it made me think about how healthy is this product that is derived from corn. Also, the fact that two college students are running around the Midwest asking where they can get their hands on a chemical, post 9/11 is disturbing.How is the FDA regulating these chemicals? According to section 201(f), “(1) articles used for food or drink for man and animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) article use for components of any such article” fall under the FDA jurisdiction.Source:http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Bioterrorism/ucm082798.htm
Would the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 consider sulfuric acid as a controlled substance? Does the oxidation of this chemical when added to mixture makes it less harmful to the body?
People that suffer from diabetes and continue to consume foods with HFCS may want to think twice after they see King Corn. The documentary draws the viewer’s attention to consider the consequences of the over indulgence of corn sweeteners. Ian and Curt interviewed a Brooklyn man regarding his obsession with soft drinks and share how he lost weight when he stop drinking soda. His other medical issues were also alleviated. Now, I am not advocating for a complete elimination of corn syrup from your diet unless you are diabetic or your doctor indicates otherwise. I would rather save it for a special occasion like a nice jelly apple and or caramel corn made from scratch. I like to have a soft drink once in a while, but I mainly drink bottled water, which is a healthier alternative. During some Jewish holidays, some soft drinks companies sell sodas that contain cane sugar instead of HFCS. They have a better taste. Making wise choices when selecting foods is the best way to maintain a better health.