HFCS vs Corn Syrup?

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

Is regular corn syrup "safe"? I mean, I know I should cut all those simple sugars, but I'm a candy addict, it's not happening. But tonight I was looking at a candy bar label, and was happy to see no HFCS, only corn syrup. It's far less processed, right? I'm guessing corn syrup is kind of like a refined sugar, where as HFCS is chemically altered to be ultra sweet? Am I getting this right, or are both equally bad?

tommigirle · March 2010

any kind of non-organic, processed corn product is pretty much guaranteed to be genetically modified. corn is one of the top 5 gmo crops in the us (i believe it is #2 after soybeans). i don't know how corn syrup stacks up against hfcs. we avoid all non-organic corn.

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

I get what you're saying, but we are not worried so much about organic (though I'd love to make that switch too, just not in the budget right now with me not working...) but more the chemical modifications to the product.

I did hear about how bad corn is. It's sad, that's in so much now...

PDX · March 2010

I don't know a lot about how they are different. Yes, HFCS is more processed but whether that means it is worse in your mind depends on why you want to avoid it in the first place. I doubt I'd call anything with HFCS or regular corn syrup healthy, but I guess if you're going to have one, you might as well go for cs.

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

Well, like I said, we're not fully on the organic bandwagon...we buy it when we can , but it's not a lot or super often.

I don't like putting chemicals in my body while pregnant (and really always). I avoid artificial sweeteners, and things of that sort, and am trying to watch out more for HFCS. It's hard to even avoid HFCS, if you cut corn syrup too, that means almost 0 prepackaged food. I know that'd be great, but not a reality in this house.

reeni · March 2010

hfcs is chemically altered with a few extra molecules (corn syrup is primarily glucose) and thus makes your body crave it because it doesn't get sated like with sucrose (table sugar) or other sugars. Regular corn syrup doesn't do this, even though it is still a simple sugar.

Constructively, corn syrup is better for you than hfcs... basically, the best thing is to make your own candy from cane sugar! even that will often have some corn syrup in it to control crystallization.

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

Thank you! That is exactly the kind of fact I was looking for. I've known that HFCS was bad for awhile, but not the details so much. I figured rather than try to wade through the info on the net and guess what it's trying to tell me (comparatively) I'd ask you ladies. I figured someone would know the chemical difference.

Candy Candy Candy!!! I'm horrible....I admit it. I love making my own, but hate how long it takes! Glass candy is one of my favorites, but it is so long and boring making it. I need to look up somewhere, I heard there's a microwave recipe for it.

Dobie_Mama · March 2010

reeni:
hfcs is chemically altered with a few extra molecules (corn syrup is primarily glucose) and thus makes your body crave it because it doesn't get sated like with sucrose (table sugar) or other sugars. Regular corn syrup doesn't do this, even though it is still a simple sugar.

Ditto all of this. I believe corn syrup also does not carry the same mercury risk as HFCS. It's not good for you by any means, but I don't expect my candy to be.

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

Dobie_Mama:
reeni:
hfcs is chemically altered with a few extra molecules (corn syrup is primarily glucose) and thus makes your body crave it because it doesn't get sated like with sucrose (table sugar) or other sugars. Regular corn syrup doesn't do this, even though it is still a simple sugar.
Ditto all of this. I believe corn syrup also does not carry the same mercury risk as HFCS. It's not good for you by any means, but I don't expect my candy to be.

LOL! Exactly! I don't think my diet is winning me any healthy eater awards when you factor in my candy consumption, but at least I can avoid the big chemical scary things. I'm so sad that Pepsi keeps making Throwback a short term thing. It's so yummy, and HFCS free!

Dobie_Mama · March 2010

Do you guys get Passover Coke there? Around this time of year, Coca Cola starts putting out Coke with sugar, because corn syrup isn't kosher. It has a yellow lid and the lid will say OU-P. I always stock up on some so that we can have a guilt-free (well, as guilt-free as you can make pop lol) treat every so often.

MarknCalsMommy · March 2010

Dobie_Mama:
Do you guys get Passover Coke there? Around this time of year, Coca Cola starts putting out Coke with sugar, because corn syrup isn't kosher. It has a yellow lid and the lid will say OU-P. I always stock up on some so that we can have a guilt-free (well, as guilt-free as you can make pop lol) treat every so often.

Awesome! Thank you! DH is more a Coke guy, so this will make him happy. He's been looking for Mexican coke, but he said the last time he found one, the bottle said it could contain either HFCS or sugar, and he gave up all HFCS for lent, which has kind of kicked me into a more serious look at it. I'm sure he'll be on the lookout now....

I'm more a Pepsi girl, but if I can get Coke without HFCS, I can handle that.

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