Obesity Watch – High Fructose Corn Syrup

OBESITY WATCH by Liesbet Bickett “High Fructose Corn Syrup. STOP EATING IT!”

Are you fat? Obese? Over 2/3 of America is overweight and over 1/3 of America is Obese. Don’t be afraid to talk about this. The path to change starts with open discussion.

I work daily with people with 50 -250 pounds to lose in order to be healthy. I often hear my clients ask themselves, “How did I let myself get in this condition? I don’t understand what has happened to me.” One of the answers is that they are addicted to foods which make them fat.

Things are happening in the food you eat that you don’t understand! Your food desires are controlled by internal chemical reactions. The food industry knows how to make food irresistible so that you eat to excess. One of the tools they use is High Fructose Corn Syrup, HFCS.

HFCS is one of the most important food additives for you to eliminate from your diet! It has been linked to: Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, Obesity, Weakened Immune System, Cirrhosis of the liver, Osteoporosis, Elevated Cholesterol, Anemia, Mineral Deficiency.

What is HFCS? HFCS is corn syrup chemically altered by enzymatic processes. The syrup is changed from a compound which is mainly glucose to one which is a mix of glucose and fructose. HFCS can be 90% Fructose.

Why is HFCS a problem? Fructose in high amounts interferes with an enzyme in the body which delivers copper to vital organs, resulting in copper deficiencies. This can impact a wide range of organ systems including the heart, testes and liver. Fructose is processed in the liver. If too much fructose enters the liver, the liver can’t process it fast enough to use all the sugar so it coverts fructose into fats and sends them into the blood stream as Triglycerides. Excess triglycerides in the blood stream are delivered to fat cells and stored in the tissues as fat. YES, HFCS makes you FAT! More seriously, elevated triglycerides are linked to coronary artery disease.

HFCS also disrupts leptin function. Leptin is an important hormone which oversees all energy stores, deciding whether you feel hungry, whether you store fat or whether you burn fat. This disruption in leptin function means you don’t receive neurological signals telling you to stop eating. The result is you eat more than you need and more than your body can digest or use effectively.

When you eat foods with HFCS the tendency is to eat A LOT more than you would otherwise. In addition to not knowing when you’re full, endorphins and dopamine are produced in heightened amounts making you keep eating no matter how you feel. HFCS is among the highly palatable foods which hit the “Hedonic Hot Spot” in the pleasure sensor of your brain. The result is increased release of endorphins and an increased dopamine response to food. What does that mean to you? It means you feel REALLY good, when eating HFCS. The problem is, it doesn’t last long, so chemicals are released in your brain making you want more. The sensors which tell you to stop eating have been turned off and every chemical which makes you want to eat is on overdrive! You have been turned into an addict. Your craving for HFCS is as strong as a heroin addict craving a fix.

HFCS is in most processed foods. Why? It’s addictive, it’s cheap, and it has a long shelf life. It’s a food producers dream. It’s your nightmare! Over 10% of the average American caloric intake comes from HFCS. It’s in cereal, bread, meat, pastas, sauces, even cough syrup.

HFCS is used to mask cheap, bland tasting food and to make you want to buy and eat in excess. Put enough HFCS on cardboard and it will taste good. Should you eat it? NO! If you see any of the following ingredients on a food label don’t eat it: High Fructose Corn, Corn or Agave Syrup, and concentrated fruit juice (all these sugars have severe reactions in your body).

Your desire for HFCS foods is an addiction. To break your addiction you need knowledge, support, and possibly supplements to support the withdrawal process. You are breaking a drug addiction. Being part of a supportive and knowledgeable program will increase your success.

Fitness XceL is developed for adults 50 pounds or more overweight. Members receive daily support, attend fitness and diet classes and benefit from being part of a supportive and motivating community. For more information please contact me at CoreQuest Fitness: 925-457-4587 or e-mail, Liesbet@Bickett.net.

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