Salty and Sweet

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?!!!