Trying to Lose Weight? Skip the Corn Syrup
Karo Syrup ad, circa 1903
I’ve been sharing with some of my friends about how I’ve been trying to cut out sugar and eat more healthy fats and proteins. Thankfully it’s working, and I’m seeing results, but it’s been quite an education about reading labels and thinking about foods differently.
It’s amazing how many products contain high fructose corn syrup. Even if you don’t consider yourself “eating a lot of sweets”, you’re probably getting numerous small doses of high fructose corn syrup in a variety of products.
Check out this 1903 ad for Karo Corn Syrup. It was actually advertised as the appetizer that makes you eat.
I don’t know of too many people who actually *need* an appetite stimulant these days, but back in the early 1900′s folks were a little on the scrawny side and actually needed to bulk up in order to handle the harsher conditions back then.
Our world is much different now. We live a more sedentary life and cheap (not nutritious) food is readily available. In fact, corn syrup, the appetizer that makes you eat, is in most of the processed foods (and drinks) on store shelves.
Check out these facts from this 2004 Thriving Now blog entry.
The USDA figures show that the steady growth of high-fructose corn syrup, which ballooned from zero consumption in 1966 to 62.6 pounds per person in 2001 also corresponds to the rapid rise in obesity. It is believed that this high consumption of corn syrup is undermining appetite control, the very thing Karo used in its advertising. Also from 1965 to 1996 soft-drink consumption increased 287% in boys and 224% in girls, and corn syrup is the primary sweetener used in soft drinks.
I’m convinced that avoiding corn syrup will naturally help you to avoid cravings and overeating. So if you’re trying to lose weight, that’s one simple step you can take towards better healthy. Just read your labels and try skip ANY that have corn syrup in them or at least be very selective about the ones you’re going to eat.
Neat post, Nancy. Did you know the corn lobby has recently tried to get the legal name of HFCS changed to “corn sugar”? Apparently to many people are learning the negatives of HFCS. If you can’t make a product you’re proud to sell, try misleading your customers with a name change. Seems like someone would spend a little time burning in hell for that ploy