One of the first things that I learned when I started on this weight loss journey was to be weary of anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup (a.k.a. Corn Sugar). There are more and more studies that are finding strong addictive tendencies in this evil substance.
Princeton did a study on the substance and the results that they came up with were enough to raise eye brows. You can find the article that talks about this study here: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/
It is definitely an article worth your read.
In the study, they found that the rats who were given High Fructose Corn Syrup laced water gained significantly more weight than the rats who were given table sugar. Not only that but they also found that the rats who had the High Fructose Corn Syrup ended up not just gaining more weight than the table sugar group but that the animals in the High fructose corn Syrup group ended up gaining 48 percent more weight!
When I stumbled across this information I started to try to do my best to avoid it, only to come to the realization that it is found in almost everything we eat.
It’s not practical to think that you can avoid ever eating it again. And the saying is always true, Everything in Moderation. The problem however, is getting that into moderate amounts of your diet.
So next time you decide to go pick up that soda can or candy bar think twice! Rid yourself of the constant craving for it and you will quickly find that things that are loaded with it are overly sweet.
After only a month I got to the point were most sodas and soft drinks are just revolting to me. Just try to go a while without the processed foods and then taste them again. They just aren’t as tasty as we thought.
But there will be days when you will miss that soda. And for those days, my husband and I have found a great compromise.
This bottle of coke isn’t any normal coke, and you more than likely are not going to find it on your regular soda aisle. No folks, this coke is Mexican coke! What makes it better than the normal stuff you ask? Let’s turn the bottle around and take a look.
The red box believe it or not is the ENTIRE ingredients list. That’s right there are only 6 ingredients in this bottle. And let me tell you, there is a huge difference in flavor alone to justify the extra cost.
All of that being said, you should be aware that there is a bit of the “Corn Sugar” that may find its way in here. I went on to coke’s website and found a Ingredients Glossary. According to their website Caramel Coloring is defined as:
Caramel Color
Caramel color is made by a process involving the heating of corn or cane sugar and other carbohydrates to achieve the desired color.
http://productnutrition.thecoca-colacompany.com/ingredients
Because they don’t clarify if its indeed Corn Sugar or the better option Cane Sugar you should still take caution and limit the amount you drink it. But if you are just looking for a special treat every now and then, I would have to say that is a great way to go.
So as you go about your day, be weary and warned. Keep your eyes out and pay attention you might just be amazed at just how much of the High Fructose Corn Syrup is making its way into your diet.
The Graceful Skinny 
I’ve completely cut out all sodas a while back because I was starting to get this feeling that the sugars and fake sugars made me hungrier for OTHER sugary things… 🙂
I try to keep out sugars too for the same reason. However I have noticed I don’t seem to get that effect from this one. Thanks for commenting!
yeah, I have nothing concrete for my theory, just kind of an idea I had once! 🙂 I’ve gone for periods without soda for a while, and sometimes just diet soda… I’ve just drinking water these days, though, and haven’t missed the soda TOO much… 🙂
Water is ALWAYS better! But soda is indeed a hard one to give up. Keep it up!
That’s pretty interesting!! I went without soda products for YEARS except for the VERY occasional taste. Mostly the carbonation would cause such stomach pains that I had no problem avoiding it. Being pregnant, however, and my normal go-to drink of sweet tea being out of the question(can’t stomach the stuff right now), I’ve opted for sodas again. It is the only thing I can drink besides water that actually tastes good. I DO try to limit right now and we don’t buy it so I only get it when we’re out and about, but this does seem like a decent alternative. I wonder if you could get the same flavor, though, by getting some carbonated water and adding sugar. heh… Also, define “natural flavors.” That may have some HFCS too.
Have you thought to try adding carbonated water to 100% juice? I have always wondered if that would be good. That is very true about “Natural Flavors” But seeing as it is low in the ingredients list I am not too worried.
OMG! i blogged about this a few days ago when I decided to give up this sweet narcotic. Today is day 2. On day 1 I was so tired that I fell asleep at 7 pm..and I’m not a grade schooler :). Its going to be rough, but I know it will be worth it in the end
Good for you! Push through though and you will find that you feel a lot better!