First Monday Challenge 1.0 « Salty and Sweet

First Monday Challenge 1.0

April 28, 2008 at 7:34 am | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, Nutrition, diabetes | 7 Comments
Tags: heart health, HFCS, High Fructose Corn Syrup, lifestyle change, soda

Come on people! Don’t make me do this all by myself! Let’s support each other in improving our health! (okay, I’m sorry, that is a little too cheery for a Monday morning, I agree). Today I start the first step of my new healthy “diet” or shall we say ‘lifestyle change’? This nutritional change is for improving health overall, heart health, lung health… not just for people with Cystic Fibrosis, or Diabetes, but for everyone!

This challenge begins with the first steps of eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Apparently this is in almost EVERYTHING, so it is quite a challenge to begin with. So, as a baby step, I am challenging myself and you to quit drinking soda. Now, I think diet soda is ok, but why bother since the carbonation isn’t good for you anyway. I’d have to have someone read a label and post a comment for me since I don’t drink diet. The “fake” sugar gives me a nasty headache. Can you do that for me?

While researching HFCS I was blown away by the amount of negative impacts this chemical has on the human body. First, it is the number one source of empty calories in the average American diet. Empty calories are just a complete waste, they serve no good for your body since they deliver no nutrition. Plainly, they just make you fat. Also, HFCS is believed to be a contributer of the increase of Type 2 Diabetes. (now, why would you increase your risk of something so horrible, if you can control it?!).

HFCS is composed of fructose and glucose and are monosaccharides. Fructose breaks down very quickly and easily in the body to form glucose, and well, glucose is glucose. Since these chemicals enter the system so quickly they will spike the glucose levels in the blood. It is well known that high blood glucose/sugar causes harm to the body. Researchers believe that continuous spiking of blood glucose levels may be a contributer to Type 2 Diabetes. Even the “normal” human body has trouble keeping up with these unnatural spikes. That’s a double whammy against HFCS with concerns to Type 2 Diabetes.

Doc says that the best substitute is sugar. Plain old sugar. This is closer to the earth, hence your body has an easier time dealing with it.

As if that isn’t enough info to convince you, my doctor has informed me that Fructose is also an inflammatory chemical. Inflammatory chemicals can cause heart disease and other nasty things. Having CF, which causes a lot of inflammation in the lungs, I am super interested in any ways possible of reducing this inflammation.

So, back to the challenge. I have made the decision to test out this theory, see how I feel after a while after eliminating this from my diet. I think I should notice if my lungs are feeling better in a week or so. I noticed all the juice in my refrigerator has HFCS in it, so that isn’t a good replacement. So… I am looking to you for suggestions as to what to replace my sodas with… help me?!!!

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Ok, You’re on! I will start looking at my labels for HFCS and see if I can eliminate this from my diet as well. I asked a friend the other day why she was drinking a coke manufactured in Mexico – she replied that it is made with sugar, not HFCS. That didn’t mean much to me until I read your article – I just thought she liked the taste better. But I agree with you – best to eliminate all carbonated drinks. That’s pretty easy for me until I see an Izzy. (darn it!) Great challenge Aspen!

Comment by Donlyn — April 29, 2008 #

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Ok, I just read my Izzy label – 70% fruit juice, no refined sugars, the carbonation comes from sparkling water – probably the other 30%. All the sweetness in an Izzy is from fruit juice concentrate. Ok, I will reach for an Izzy if I can’t totally withdraw from my carbonated drinks (I just bought a box of these at CostCo). At least they are small and one a day is enough, 120 calories for the Pomegranate.

Comment by Donlyn — April 29, 2008 #

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Ugh, I have tried cutting back on HFCS and it is so hard! It’s everywhere! Bread, granola bars, ketchup.. I always thought I ate fairly healthy so it was annoying to discover so many sources.

I did manage to give up soda though. Even though diet versions do not have HFCS, they are still very acidic, and it just seems unhealthy to ingest. I started substituting tea – hot tea, iced tea, especially green tea versions. Tasty and still has some caffeine for an afternoon pick up. The diet ones are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, not HFCS. Or if you want to be really natural, you can try using raw sugar, the kind from the brown packets at Starbucks. It’s natural and I think there’s only about 20 calories/ serving. Good luck with your challenge!

Comment by Eileen — April 29, 2008 #

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Yeaaa!!! I love Izzy! I also love tea and other low/no calorie drinks. My biggest worry, which is ALREADY starting to happen, is losing weight! I am barely 107lbs right now and at 5′5″ I can’t stand to lose a pound! I would love to get up to at least 120lbs, a much more healthy weight for me. (only been there once before for a short period in my life)

Although I am cutting out the empty calories I get from soda, I am really worried it is too much. I’m on a high calorie diet, but how do I do that except eat more than my weight in food every day?

Comment by aspen — April 29, 2008 #

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If you have a hard time giving up the soda you can try Hansen’s Natural Soda’s. They are really good and all natural, cane sugar and all. They are also quite yummy! They are usually in the organic section of most grocery stores.
You can find out more about it on their site http://www.hansens.com
I don’t usually post links but this will save you some time!

Comment by Jeff A — May 3, 2008 #

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Diet Pepsi
Contains:
Cabronated Water, carmel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine (aka my life blood)cirtic acid, natural flavors and Phenylalanine. I know this because I have one sitting on my desk at work….
No, Calories, no fat, no protien…really a whole lotta nuthin”…cept’t hat caffeine thing..

HFCS can be reduced by cutting out foods that are processed…at least that is what someone told me.

So homemade juices probably will not have HFCS in them… I imagine there will be a run on juciers soon.. better get one now! ;D

Comment by Kendra — May 8, 2008 #

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I heard somewhere, something in carbonated drinks combines with calcium in your body and therefor can cause issues with bone density…

Isn’t aspartame the stuff that causes cancer in rats?

Anybody know the answers?

Comment by aspen — May 8, 2008 #

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