The people commenting about HFCS should read the NYT article with the same title (Is Sugar Toxic?) which makes the case that regular sugar and HFCS are not as different as we'd like to believe.
I WISH 60 minutes would focus on the chemicals and pesticides that are put on the seeds and plants that grow the corn and other plants that we consume. I think that is the real concern.
Chemicals and pesticides are a secondary issue to sugar. Cancer and other diseases of western society are fueled by inflammation. Inflammation is caused by the immune system's response to germ overgrowth in the body. This germ overgrowth is fueled by over nutrition,of which sugar is a major component.
I agree. To the naysayers, you are extremely ignorant if you do not believe that pesticides or herbicides cannot affect a body, especially in the long term. Monsanto is America's leading herbicidal producer; they are also the manufacturers of Agent Orange and the rest of the Agent "rainbow" used as chemical warfare in the Vietnam War. These chemicals ABSOLUTELY have long term damage. From skin damage, to neurological to death. My father who served as a Landclearer (jungle removal) in Vietnam was exposed to Agent Orange, and still to this day has skin issues, over forty years later. Monsanto has SEVERAL Agents in key positions in the Government; and most recently they are legislating for Agent Orange to be applied to food crops again. Know the facts, people. Your government is purposefully poisoning you--and they don't care.
CBS, please show pictures of products with HFCS - it is COMPLETELY misleading to show products that are made of natural sweeteners, sucrose, glucose and fructose. Unlike these sweeteners,High Fructose Corn Syrup is processed in the liver, and the fructose molecule is SEPARATED from the glucose molecule.The fructose in HFCS is differ from that in a sucrose molecule bcuz:
1. It is chemically altered using lye and other items
2. The isomer of the molecule is actually flipped meaning it does not "fit" where it is supposed to when being metabolized
3. the fructose in sugar and fruit are "bound" molecules enabling them to be processed as God intended. Fructose in HFCS is a free molecule and this is a problem. it's like separating the sodium and chloride in salt or the hydrogen and oxygen in water. VERY different chemicals when they are separated, which is what HFCS does to the fructose.
Sucrose, glucose and natural fructose are all fine in moderation. HFCS isn't. Avoid it if you want to live a long healthy life.
Interesting details about HFCS. However your third point is pretty far off base. The fructose in sugar is indeed bound, to glucose. But most fruits have free fructose in abundance. Also, the sodium and chloride in salt separate very easily, when the salt is dissolved in anything (including food).
That being said, HFCS is certainly full of empty calories, and very little else. And the processed "food" it's found in is full of all kinds of other chemicals. Doesn't anyone eat real food anymore?
This is utter ********. Sucrose is identical to a fructose/glucose combination to the body. It is quickly separated by enzymes in your gut. Chemically altered? Frucose is fructose is fructose. There's no magical "chemical" fructose.
That said: yes, HFCS is bad. But table sugar is equally bad. Fruit on the other hand, is fine, because of the fiber content. But it's not because of some magical "chemical" properties of HFCS. Everything natural is chemical too. Your body, and everything in nature, is giant chemistry machines.
The danger of sugar is how it fuels germ overgrowth in the body. Any of these added sugars can do that. "Moderation" of added glucose,fructose,and sucrose may kill you slower but they will kill you. The epidemic of western disease disease was sparked long before HFCS was invented. HFCS just turned it into a wildfire.
The only problem with your assertion is that the studies show no difference in the response to HFCS or Fructose. In fact, the regular fructose found in fruit (when extracted) do the same things to your body as HFCS. So juicing could cause the same thing when the pulp is removed. The way God intended us to eat includes the fiber with the sugar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM is a 90 min lecture by Dr Lustig at UCSF he is an endocrinologist and knows how this works.
Has 60 Minutes checked out <Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology>? His research on HFCS contribution to obesity and type 2 diabetes appears to be very informative. Only 60 Minutes can proved the actual change to make things happen. I believe 60 Minutes is the most powerful medium available today.
CBS, please check your facts and sources. your focus is sugar, but in fact it is high fructose corn syrup that has led to the significant increase in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and numerous other health issues burdening the us population. sugar and fructose are NOT metabolically equivalent and you need to speak with scientists who truly understand the difference. was your piece funded by the corn refiners association??? sure, too much sweetener is linked to medical problems. but reexamine the type of sweeteners that are consumed in largest quantities by the us. stop using the term "sugar" to reference all sweeteners as all sweeteners are NOT equal.
Is this about sugar, (sucrose) or High Fructose Corn Syrup? People in the south drank iced tea with 1/2 half to 2 cups of sugar per quart for decades without a problem. But, look at them now. Their iced tea has been poisoned by HFCS and they are all obese and are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Please get the word out on this KILLER. ONLY 60 Minutes can get societal change accomplished these days.
AGREE!!!! We need to look at the types of sweeteners being consumed. First Lady Obama, do you really want to address the obesity issue facing our children? Why don't you publicize that HFCS is banned from the White House? Why is this ingredient allowed in our food system? Look at the increase in all these diseases and overlay the spike with the exact time that HFCS was approved by the FDA for use to replace sucrose in processed foods. HFCS is poisoning our country and costing billions in medical treatment.
My husband suffered with diabetes for 20 years. Seeing physician regularly, doing everything he was told. In 2002 he was on 43 units of insulin, had severe neuropathy in both feet and could not walk over 75 feet without sitting down. His weight was 280 pounds (he is 5'10"). He had profuse night sweats, was always tired and irritable. After reading Dr. Richard Bernstein's book, and Gary Taubes, I came up with a program we could live with. In 2003, within 3 months on our program, my husband came off of all insulin, within 9 months he lost 80 pounds (since he has lost another 20 pounds for a total of 100 pounds lost), he has walked in 2 5K races and finished. He is totally free of neuropathy pain and off of Neurotin (pain medication since 2004). He is off of diuretic medication that he was on for over 30 years. His irritability is gone. Night sweats gone! Psoriasis on elbows - gone. Sleep apnea - gone! He is and has been for the past 9 years now the wonderful man I married 51 years ago! Oh yes, blood sugars are in the 95 to 100 range fasting blood. Yes, sugar kills. Our processed foods are FULL of sugar. Low fat foods are FULL of sugar. They take out the fat and put in the carbohydrates! That is why we have seen diabetes cases increase 3 fold in the past 30 years! I am so happy that you are showing reporting on this. I've been preaching it for all these years and people look at me like I am nuts. Sugar/ Carbohydrates not only kill us, they also greatly diminish our quality of life. Thank you so much for this program.
About 18 months ago I was overweight and sedentary. I was drinking 3-4 cans of soda each day. I gave up sugar (and a lot of carbs), and in a year lost 80 pounds. Ran a 15k (9.3 miles) with my daughter a couple of weeks ago, and I am feeling great now. I will definitely trade a good-tasting piece of pie for some extra quality years of life. A friend of mine lost OVER 200 pounds the same way. No sugar in our house!
This is about the children, if as an adult you choose to not pay heed, that is your choice. But as for the children, choices are made by their parents. I hope as parents you put your bias aside and consider what they are saying. As an adult if you want to eat sugar on your deathbed - do it. As a guardian of your child - this may be an important finding that could benefit your child tremendously. Knowledge is power - take the power, for your childs sake. We are in crisis in this country. NOt only sugar but all the chemicals in our foods as well. We need to make serious changes. If it starts with sugar -at least we are starting. Children deserve a healthy start!!!
About 18 months ago I was overweight and sedentary. I was drinking 3-4 cans of soda each day. I gave up sugar (and a lot of carbs), and in a year lost 80 pounds. Ran a 15k (9.3 miles) with my daughter a couple of weeks ago, and I am feeling great now. I will definitely trade a good-tasting piece of pie for some extra quality years of life. A friend of mine lost OVER 200 pounds the same way. No sugar in our house!
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1. It is chemically altered using lye and other items
2. The isomer of the molecule is actually flipped meaning it does not "fit" where it is supposed to when being metabolized
3. the fructose in sugar and fruit are "bound" molecules enabling them to be processed as God intended. Fructose in HFCS is a free molecule and this is a problem. it's like separating the sodium and chloride in salt or the hydrogen and oxygen in water. VERY different chemicals when they are separated, which is what HFCS does to the fructose.
Sucrose, glucose and natural fructose are all fine in moderation. HFCS isn't. Avoid it if you want to live a long healthy life.
That being said, HFCS is certainly full of empty calories, and very little else. And the processed "food" it's found in is full of all kinds of other chemicals. Doesn't anyone eat real food anymore?
That said: yes, HFCS is bad. But table sugar is equally bad. Fruit on the other hand, is fine, because of the fiber content. But it's not because of some magical "chemical" properties of HFCS. Everything natural is chemical too. Your body, and everything in nature, is giant chemistry machines.
First Lady Obama, do you really want to address the obesity issue facing our children? Why don't you publicize that HFCS is banned from the White House? Why is this ingredient allowed in our food system? Look at the increase in all these diseases and overlay the spike with the exact time that HFCS was approved by the FDA for use to replace sucrose in processed foods. HFCS is poisoning our country and costing billions in medical treatment.
Yes, sugar kills. Our processed foods are FULL of sugar. Low fat foods are FULL of sugar. They take out the fat and put in the carbohydrates! That is why we have seen diabetes cases increase 3 fold in the past 30 years!
I am so happy that you are showing reporting on this. I've been preaching it for all these years and people look at me like I am nuts. Sugar/ Carbohydrates not only kill us, they also greatly diminish our quality of life. Thank you so much for this program.