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Corn, Gov't Subsidies, Greed & Diabetes
Posted by globalgirl • 8/10/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: corn, diabetes, diseases, farmers, government subsidies, health, king corn, meat
I recently saw a 2007 documentary, "King Corn", about how corn impacts our economy and health.
Did you know that in the US much of the corn is subsidized and not even harvested for human consumption. Instead, corn is used in many, many, products, like:
batteries, antifreeze, cardboard, candies, enzymes, shampoos, bread, aspirin, paper, bacon, baby food, fruit drinks, canned foods, insecticides, and so forth.
High fructose corn syrup is the leading contributor behind the rise of the diabetes epidemic in the US. In other words, corporations are not only making millions by fattening up Americans, but also the root cause of diabetes and other health related diseases, merely by using corn as an ingredient in their products.
More often than not, cattle feast on a corn based food diet, which not only fattens up the cows, it also fattens up those who eat the red meat of cows.
So what do you think about this?
Why do you think our govt really gives subsidies to corn farmers when the main use of corn is so detrimental to our health?
I think high fructose corn syrup should be swiftly banned from any food products.
Read my blog post, "The Fat Truth of Corn" for more info and a trailer of King Corn: globallyminded.com/Blog/index.php
User Comments
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Wow! My girlfriend started alerting me about high fructose corn syrup a few months ago.
We read every label now...and even avoid bread having that ingredient.
Thanks for the post...this will make me even more vigilant!-
Yup, I'm going to be more vigilant to read labels for this nasty ingredient as well.
I really don't know how corporate executives sleep at night, knowing full well they are duping consumers, while making a fortune in the process. It really sickens me.
The other side of the coin is why our government permits such practices? -
Follow the money. Diabetes is good for business.
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money money money money......money!!-
Well, we know that "the love of money is the root of all evil".
This is a prime example of greed over people.
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Please explain to me what farm subsidies have to do with the increase in HFCS in food products?
My grandparents were farmers and as I understand subsidies, a farmer gets paid by the government NOT to grow a crop (or whatever else his farm usually produces). So you're gonna have to link for me Uncle Sam paying Grandpa to leave his fields fallow with HFCS being used in place of sugar in mass produced foods, because I don't see the connection.-
Here is an interesting article in the NYT regarding subsidies and corn:
www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&ore...
"...the current farm bill helps commodity farmers by cutting them a check based on how many bushels they can grow, rather than, say, by supporting prices and limiting production, as farm bills once did. The result? A food system awash in added sugars (derived from corn) and added fats (derived mainly from soy), as well as dirt-cheap meat and milk (derived from both). By comparison, the farm bill does almost nothing to support farmers growing fresh produce."
High fructose corn syrup is made from corn, subsidized by our govt, and is a key ingredient in our food supply.
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I think that corn is best turned into ethanol. High Fructose Corn Syrup is Satan spawned.-
But where will that leave our food prices, all that is made from corn?
High Fructose Corn Syrup is Satan spawned
Yes. -
You can't have it both ways. Either you are for high food prices, or not.
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So, I'm drinking one of those mini cans of Mountain Dew while I'm on here reading this and guess what the first ingredient mentioned on the label after carbonated water (#1) is?
High Fructose Corn Syrup! (#2 on the label)
It is extremely hard to stay away from this stuff!-
My brother was a dentist (now an orthodontist) and he's told me the worst offender of tooth decay is mountain dew because of, you got it, high fructose corn syrup. Ugh.
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I just read that Pepsi is launching a new product, Pepsi Raw (in Europe) that uses sugar and not corn syrup.
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Might have something to due with the ban on genetically modified food. up to 50 percent of US corn is GM. -
Why is Pepsi committed to using raw sugar in Europe and not the US?
Ingredients of Pepsi (taken from: www.pepsiproductfacts.com/infobyproduct.php)
CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, SUGAR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, CAFFEINE, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS -
Drinking empty calories derived from sucrose rather than fructose cannot be that much better for you. How about water?
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Yup I've known this for years, a report was done several years back but no one seems to care.-
Like other worthy news, it was hidden between tales of Hollywood gossip and other unworthy news.
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High fructose corn syrup is very bad stuff. We're been trying not to buy any products with it. It's surprising how many things have it including catsup, jam, bread, pop, soup, etc. I've been having a hard time finding some products that don't have it in my rural grocery stores. There is only one type of jam that I can buy in my small town that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. Sad, very sad...-
Good for you recyclecindy!
Here are two lists of products made with/without high fructose corn syrup (note: both lists are not exhaustive):
Foods made WITHOUT high fructose corn syrup
no-hfcs.tripod.com/
Foods with high fructose corn syrup
www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2005/06/09/foods_and_products_containi... -
Good to know about these links. I've also found that Western Family products such as their yogurt and oatmeal bread do not have high fructose corn syrup. It's nice to get these products as they are sold in smaller markets plus the prices are reasonable for the items.
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I noticed that the list doesn't have any Kashi products on it. I know it's not an exhaustive list, but I'm pretty sure Kashi products are made without HFCS.
And for those who haven't tried it, Ezekial 4:9 sprouted grain bread is fantastic! I have it for breakfast every morning with my all-natural butter and no-sugar-added jelly. My favorite meal of the day! -
Kristi:
I used to work for a friend making Sprouted loafs, we made about 500 a day a few days week. There is a secret to it if you ever want it I'll share. The stuff we made is legendary.
It's also called Essene Bread -
Oh, I'd love to know how to make it! Is that the secret you have? A recipe?
Of course, I don't know if I'd actually make it, since it's so easy to just go to the store and purchase it.
The brand I buy is called Ezekiel 4:9. Is Essene a brand name also?
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The first thing to sort out is, Do you think that the Govt(s) have the wellbeing of the general populace?
And I like to throw this in, Where's all the money going?-
Here's how it works. Businesses, like pharmacy companies and agricultural businesses contribute heavily to political campaigns.
Voters contribute almost nothing.
Guess who gets heard? -
And crotchety waves his walking stick in the air and grits his other fist
:-) -
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Hard hitting stuff GG.
If I remember correctly, HFCS also has an addictive quality to it.
I've been trying to stay away from it myself as of late - although I have a very hard time passing a up an ice cold soda pop
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I have claimed for a long time that I'm addicted to Dr. Pepper. People laugh at me, but I firmly believe it!
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Quite a few people believe that sugar/corn syrup is highly addictive.
Books have been written about it.
Sugar Blues is one, Sugar Busters is another. -
I wouldn't doubt the addictive nature of it. Like MSG. I find that if I haven't had a soda for a very long time I don't crave it at all - but once I pop one, I end up drinking the whole pack in rapid succession.
It's worse than my coffee and cigarette habit - seriously.
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I just got home from my weekly grocery shopping, and I paid attention and read every single label this time.
I am very pleased that of the items on my usual list, which includes about 20 items, only 1 of them contained HFCS. And that one item, fried chow mein noodles, is only used sparingly as a garnish on my salads. I was really glad to know that I'm avoiding HFCS for the most part!
The key is to stick with fresh fruits/veggies, and fresh meats. And if you want to purchase processed foods, look for brands like Kashi, or other organic brands.
Now if they'll just tear down the McDonald's and other fast food restaurants right across the highway from me, I'll be doing great! (Because obviously, I can't be expected to use self-control! )-
I'm the same way with the pizza parlor down the street. I wouldn't eat there so often if it wasn't so gosh darn good - and easy
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India has more diabetics than anywhere in the world and their use of corn syrup is LOW and the country isn't known for being an overweight population. Bottom line is that they do not know what causes Type 1 or 2 diabetes; ask why someone who has the diabetes gene isn't a diabetic and one is. It is that capricious! Diabetes is the number one reason for going blind, amputation, stroke, heart failure, and many other "minor" problems. Stem cell research for a cure is a responsible track to take. Diabetes isn't an easy disease because it goes on 24/7 and you never get relief from it. (full disclosure — I have diabetes and am TIRED of the ignorance that is perpetuated by people who don't fully research their assertions, and make broad sweeping, JUDGEMENT-LOADED statements about diabetes.-
I'd have to agree with your regarding HFCS as the cause of Type II diabetes. While it certainly doesn't help due to its glycemic index (62), it's only part of the problem: The number one cause of Type II diabetes is (to date):
Sedentary lifestyle
This is true in the western culture just as it is in India (95% of diabetics in India are type II). A sedentary lifestyle, combined with a diet rich in bad fat and simple sugars (aka processed foods), is the primary cause of the diabetes epidemic (to the best of our knowledge).
As Bill Maher would say - This just in.. Diet and Exercise do work -
India is increasing in the number if cases of diabetes, and any number of reasons are possible. However, a link between Indians and Western culture, notably products like Coco Cola, and various foods such as meat are possible links.
I'm a long time diabetic, and the first big step in lowering my sugar was becoming a near vegetarian, in that 90% of the time I do not eat meat or dairy. A link was discovered between cows milk and type 1 diabetes back in the 90's but it has been more or less discredited. Most studies discrediting it are funded by the dairy iundustry.
I have a link to www.notmilk.com on my site
diabetesdestroys.blogspot.com/
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Corn is not the only problem. Nearly every, if not every, subsidized food product is a health problem. My husband and I have personally been avoiding all products with HFCS and/or CS. You'd be surprised how many products actually have high fructose corn syrup and regular corn syrup.
Gluten is another "ingredient" used everywhere -- wheat protein, improves elasticity and makes products such as bread 'higher in protein and fiber'. Despite the fact that gluten occurs naturally in only 3 places (wheat, barley and rye), it's nearly as impossible to avoid as HFCS. You'll find it in ingredients as innocuous as "natural flavoring", "caramel color", etc. What's the downside of gluten? Well, about .5% (steadily increasing due to doctor awareness) of people have celiac disease and are deathly (long term) allergic to gluten. In addition, 15% of our population have non-celiac gluten intolerance: 1 in 7 people show the same life threatening symptoms as those diagnosed with celiac disease. See www.foodintol.com/celiac.asp
And of, lest I forget soy. Unfermented Soy, our subsidized "health food", when processed is actually a neuro-toxin, and when eaten is an endocrine disrupter (similar to Bisphenol A: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A). For a detailed look at the destructive aspects of soy, read:
Soy is NOT healthy.
In the end, it comes down to a simple concept: everything in moderation. So much money is behind these big three products (and there are others too) that it's very difficult to find food without them. As allergies, obesity, and diabetes are all on the rise, it's only natural that people are finally starting to realize the calamities of an imbalanced food system.-
The Soy is Not Healthy link is here:
cindalouskitchenblues.blogspot.com/2007/09/sorry-that-soy-latte-is-not-heal...
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I've been off Soy milk for 6 months now. Switched to Rice milk. Too many people think indecision is the key to flexibility. It's time to take a long look at the supposed "health benefits" of Soy, and do something about what they learn.
Great article, Cindalou. -
Don't worry about that, corn is going to go from your stomach to the gas tank most likely. People will want to eat a lot less corn syrup to avoid diabetes.
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