Why don't they just ban corn syrup from foods? Kids are becoming diabetic and o

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   alphagirlposted 11 years ago

   Why don't they just ban corn syrup from foods?  Kids are becoming diabetic and obese?
   
   14 years ago I stopped buying most products with corn syrup. I was the bad mom who would ban it from my kids, knowing it is bad. Our body's can't process that stuff. Food Companies through greed substituted our surgar for corn syrup. Everything from fruit snacks to cereals are laden with the corns syrup. Today we have an epidemic of kids who have type 2 diabetes and who are obese. What kid of life will these kids have? You have to watch your diet for the rest of your life and use insulin needles. What if you can't afford the insulin? Then what?

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2. 61

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   I understand what you are saying, but do we need more legislation in our lives.  Do we ban salt or anything that is high in sodium, or do we ban anything that someone deems bad for us? It becomes a slippery slope that began with good intentions.
   
   I think a better solution is education.  We need to teach children (and parents) what constitutes a healthy diet. As long as we have parents who allow their kids to swill soda pop, and whatever else they get their hands on, we will have a problem.  We just can't ban it all.

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   FatFreddysCatposted 11 years ago

   I don't think you can totally blame the corn syrup for obese children. Seems to me that most kids would rather stay in their rooms watching TV or playing video games rather then going outside and doing stuff.

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4. 68

   chefsrefposted 11 years ago

   Being diabetic myself I have looked into this. As far as your body is concerned corn syrup or HFCS is digested just like fruit sugar. Corn syrup is the source of glucose which is blood sugar, essential to life. The problem with diabetes and obesity is that we eat too many sweetened products. We eat too many starches pasta, wheat, rice, potatoes etc which metabolize into glucose (corn syrup)
   That being said there are many reasons to avoid anything with corn products in it and corn is everywhere because it is subsidized with our taxes. Read labels and you find corn in many surprising places. See http://chefsref.hubpages.com/hub/OUR-FU … EERED-FOOD
   
   1. The High Fructose Corn Syrup we consume is made from genetically modified corn thanks to Monsanto
   2. GM corn is bred to resist Round Up weed killer
   3. Round Up is sprayed over almost the entire corn crop so we are eating weed killer.
   4. Other pesticides are bred into the corn so it will kill insects
   5. So much Round Up has been used that weeds are developing resistance, Monsanto’s response is to bring back half of “Agent Orange” This is 2.4-D and corn is being bred to resist this. If approved this means that corn will be sprayed with 2 4-D and Round Up and it will be on your plate when you use a product with corn in it
   6. It is the job of the FDA to approve or deny the use of 2 4-D in our food yet the crazies on the right want to defund the agency instead of giving it teeth to defend the people
   7. Monsanto corn has also been bred with a “terminator” gene so poor farmers can’t save the seed, they have to go back to Monsanto every year for more seed

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      teaches12345posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer Chefsref. I learned much from your explanation.

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   etower036posted 11 years ago

   Okay, here is a fast tutorial for those that do not really understand what the body does with sugar. (without too much science.)
   
   1. When sugar enters the body either by what we drink, or eat, our body begins the process of breaking down the sugars.. Table sugar is called Sucrose, which the body must break down into Glucose. Glucose is then used by the body for energy.
   
   2. High fructose corn syrup is made of two types of sugars, Glucose and Fructose. The body has to break down these components first before it can use it as energy, Fructose takes longer for the body to break down into glucose because it has to go through more processes in the body to be converted into glucose.
   
   3. Insulin which is a hormone produced in the pancreas goes into the blood system and takes the glucose and acts like a key to open the cells for the glucose to be used as energy. When there are not enough "keys" insulin, the body has to then send the glucose back into the liver where it is then converted into fat which then is stored for later use.
   
   4. Sugar is not the only reason why our bodies blood glucose levels raise, caffeine is also a contributing factor to our blood glucose levels. Science has proven that the consumption of Caffeine raises our blood sugars, which again in the case of diabetics, ( I am diabetic type 2.) our bodies can't produce enough insulin "keys" for the body to use the glucose.
   
   5. Stress is another contributor to our blood glucose levels. The body can also produce its own glucose through the liver, however again, when the body dose not have enough insulin, the body can't use the glucose, and it is then sent back into storage.
   
   High fructose corn syrup is hidden in our food, Bread, processed canned foods such as pasta and pasta sauce; and some are right there in our face as in soda. What we have to be aware of is, if we are drinking those energy drinks, they are glucose based, and extra caffeine. These drinks are popular with teens especially cause they give them a boost of energy, however they are over working the bodies own ability to process the glucose. Which can lead to gaining weight and diabetes.
   
   I am not a doctor, nor do I have a scientific background. I just have learned many things about my condition by reading, and living with this unfortunate condition.
   
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