There is a lot that makes sense in your article and I appreciate the science that you present. But you really shoot yourself in the foot when you write "Is it a coincidence that this country's obesity rates have more than doubled during that time period? I don't think so!" As a trained statistician I know that the only way you can show this type of relationship is through carefully controlled studies. Drawing this type of conclusion, without any study behind, is potentially spurious. There are many factors that need to be controlled for before making this conclusion. I suggest you go for less sensation and more facts in your blog.

I agree with your position on high fructose corn syrup, and all forms of refined sugar. But when you describe a nutrient dense diet as a plant-based diet, without mentioning the importance of animal fat, you are ignoring the seminal work of Weston Price.

Dr. Hyman,

I get the point of your post. I too am someone who likes hard facts, but I also allow for some creative freedom when you are trying to make a point.

Whether there are hard facts or not, HFCS is just one of the many factors that seem to align with weight gain over time and I have to tell you, since I read your book, it is the first thing I look for on the label.

For instance, I went to pick up some cocktail sauce for my shrimp and there it was...the first thing on the label...High Fructose Corn Syrup.

I started my diet on July 1 and I have already lost 15 pounds.

In addition, I have a question, I see "Cane Juice" on a lot of health food labels. This seems like a tricky way to say sugar. Is that the case and what are the Pros and Cons?

http://BIG.karlfrankjr.com to follow my diet journal.

On HFCS...Does raw fruit put us in the same bind???

What about fruit juices?

Food sweetened with fruit juices (found in organic/natural food stores)?

Since I've started reading all labels I've been shocked to discover HFCS and/or high sodium in some of the most basic foods, such as canned vegetable soup which you would think would be healthy, but not with the added fructose.

Thank you for your e-mail. It's a good reminder not to be tempted by processed foods, especially containing corn syrup, and to think it's even genetically altered. I have some organic syrup in the pantry, and I'm going to thinking of how to keep up the Ph balance today with my fresh produce, as I learn to tend my own kitchen garde.

My parents had a typical square meals diet when I was young, but it sort of ignored the sugary cereal and frequent desserts and my dad with hypoglycemia thought it wouldn't be bad. Well, I had hay fever, skin trouble, sleep trouble, and digestive trouble, too, but I never gave up. I kept studying about nutrition and exercise, and more importantly made it part of my life. Now I'm hay fever free, I don't have much skin trouble, no sleep trouble, no digestive trouble, and a lot of my vital signs are for someone 21 or younger.

Modern wellness programs work. One little trick is I learned that homemaking and gardening tasks are actually great cardio and aerobics, and figure if my work involves work then, I'm ahead, and exercise boosts immunity, too. So I keep up the elbow grease, and keep enjoying great results.

Thank you for your help.

I have lost over 100 pounds (without surgery). Everyone asks what I've done, specifically. I think I specify three things that eliminate 90% of the "bad" foods. Furthermore, Americans like simple lists where they don't have to think. Saying "fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc." is much too difficult for your average NASCAR fan to process and put into action. As well, it's undeniable that everyone seems to want rules, like were placed on them when they were children. So here's my three rules:

NO:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
MSG
Hydrogenated Oil (transfats)

Go to the store and avoid those three things, and what are you left with? Fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, etc. NATURAL FOOD.

I blogged about HFCS on my blog two weeks ago, http://newlifefitness.blogspot.com

Thanks Dr. Hyman for some really excellent information. Of course I had heard to avoid corn syrup but had never understood what actually happens when you ingest fructose. Makes it a lot easier to say "NO". I was also wondering what you make of the current fad to use HOODIA as a weight loss aid? I'd be curious to hear your opinion.
Thanks,
Heidi

I am curious whether Dr. Hyman considers lo han guo is an acceptable sweetener.

As to today's article, thanks for getting the word out. HFCS is a proven dangerous substance. FDA thinks it's just fine. Meanwhile, FDA still bans stevia from prepared foods. What's up with THAT?

thanks dr. hyman... this is great information! i'm an american living in china. about 7 years ago i cut out all corn products and lost about 10 lbs in two weeks, without exercise. my energy levels changed dramatically because the corn could no longer inhibit my insulin. it was a breakthrough for me. i cut the corn for allergy purposes (exzema and multiple rashes that would not be helped by daily (!) applications of cortisone) but had no idea it would affect my weight. i'm now at 120 lbs (from 157) thanks to just cutting HFCS and eating smaller portions. thank you for sharing this information with more people and helping americans be healthier.
regards,
h

Dr. Hyman, I loved the article you sent to my email regarding High fructose corn syrup. I have noticed this substance in alot of labels. I will take this information, read it to my young adult children as they are branching out shopping for themselves these days. My 19 yr old has been heading toward the sciences in her studies and is looking @ being a dietician. Good stuff!! Thanks alot for your dedication to our overall health.

Dr. Hyman,

I always love the way you document your theories with scientific facts - it's what makes the difference between the UltraMetabolism diet and the South Beach or Atkins diet.

That said, I have to say that your book inspired me to end my dysfunctional relationship with sugar, including HFCS, on account of insulin resistance, and I almost immediately dropped 8 pounds and feel healthier. Now I'm at my ideal weight. :) Thanks!

Dr. Hyman,

Thank-you so much for your informative post. You are filling such a big gap in our medical establishment! My husband has a problem with high-blood pressure which is weight-related. He was handed a prescription without being told about the side effects. He was not offered the services of a dietician, or given advice about exercise or losing weight. When he read the terrible side effects of his prescription, things that would greatly reduce his quality of life, getting in shape and eating better did not seem so difficult. With your last email, my husband has yet another tool with which to improve his health. In the last three or four doctors we've seen over the years, *no* *one* else has offered any help or advice...just drugs and discouragement like "You won't do it." If there were more doctors out there like you, there would not be an obesity crisis.

You are such a gift, and we both thank you!

Is stevia an acceptable sweetener? I've heard negative things about it lately.

I'm sitting here reading your post and eatting Yoplait Yogurt thinking I'm eatting health, Not. I think I'll just go and make a fruit salad. Thanks for the post. I'm just a beginner trying to learn all of this.

Great article, thanks for the facts. It is scary what the FDA says is okay!

I find it very hard to believe that every man, woman and child in the US consumes 18 oz. of HFCS soda every day. Which is what your statistic would average out to be. That doesn't sound just a little inflated?

I like the articles but the statistics don't stand up to even casual scrutiny.

R

I rarely drink soda any more, and I honestly don't think I consume a lot of HFCS at all; I tend to avoid processed foods as much as possible.

Having said that, I DO have a sweet tooth that's hard to control, so I'd have to admit I have somewhat of a sugar addiction. My weakness tends to be baked goods: cookies, cake, etc. I don't consume nearly as much of this stuff as I once did, but even an occasional amount is probably too much. (And we're not even talking about the trans fats in this stuff at this point!)

Comments on two of the above posts: I agree that a certain amount of animal protein - preferably raised on natural diet of grass (vs. grain) and hormone and antibiotic free - plus Omega 3 and 9 rich sources like wild Alaskan salmon and chemical-free fish oil - are essential to good health. I would venture to say - from what I know of Dr. Hyman's philosophy - that he would disagree sharply.

Secondly, yes, what about stevia? I'd be VERY curious to know what "negative things" Jeanne Davant has heard lately about this sweetener. I've heard nothing but good things about it - it's all natural, yet is carb-free (unlike all other non-artificial sweeteners) and actually has other health benefits as well (can't recall any of them at the moment.)

Jeanne, if you'd be so kind - can you be more specific as to what you've heard about stevia, particularly from a negative standpoint?

Also, what about Xylitol? I've heard it's similar to stevia.

Lastly, "M", I almost missed your post, but couldn't agree more. Actually, I think the good doctor's been out of line on more than one occasion, but that's a subject for a different post ...

One more quick comment: Mary, I sympathize with you and your husband's plight. But don't expect your "doctor" - or many others, for that matter - to start recommending to their patients that the best things they can do are eat right and exercise.

Think about it - most "doctors", clinics, and hospitals would be out of business if they dished out this kind of advice - or would they? Sadly, I think the answer is actually "no." It would be more accurate to say that if doctors so advised their patients, and ALL patients actually took the advice, most of the medical establishment would be seeking other employment - or forced to alter their philosophies and practices drastically.

Conventional medicine, sadly, is not in the business of preventative medicine - they're in the business of treatment after the fact, and usually with drugs or surgery.

And - again, sadly (or even tragically) our propensity as flawed humans is to take the lazy way out - i.e., popping pills - rather than making changes in our lifestyle.

I could go on and on, but - mercifully - this, my SECOND rant of the day, must end now ... :-)

HFCs are not only in sodas! They are everywhere - you only have to start reading labels you would be surprised! I for one am not buying any processed food at all - I always read labels and if I see HFCS, or anything corn, I am not buying it - it is even in yoghurts!
The one thing that struck me when I came to the US 8 years ago is that corn syrup was everywhere! I did not know how bad it is for you but instinctively stayed away from it from the beginning - glad I did!

I liked this email...i always try to avoid HFCS whenever i can..i pretty much drink only water....but that stuff really IS in everything...i was at walmart the other day in the grocery department...basically EVERY SINGLE thing there has that stuff in it...EVERYthing there was almost nothing healthy in the whole entire store...imagine? just the produce and that's it....
I wish there were more healthy stores that wern't expensive :(

My husband has had a red face and high blood pressure for a while now. And he is not out in the sun! So he read the book Eating Right for Your Blood Type and started eliminating food items. He got to corn which is on the black list for B+ blood types. That was all corn, corn syrup and corn starch. What a change in our diet! We both lost weight and look great! We agree with you! We went to Australia and they don't grow corn there, just sugar cane. So all the soda pop has sugar in it, not corn syrup. My husband was happy! Glad we don't live there though or we would put the weight back on!

Dr. Hyman,
Your article bounces from HFCS to Fructose. Am I to understand the same effects of HFCS ingestion is also evident in the consumption of whole fruits and vegetables which also are fructose based?

Thanks for the article. What do you think of 'stevia'? I am looking for a natural sweetener and did not know about agave nectar. Will give it a try.

What about Splenda????

The info in the newsletters is great, but as an English teacher, I can't help but notice the numerous spelling and grammar errors in the posts. It might seem picky, but I think the lack of professional editing detracts from the professionalism these articles should convey.

Although I am retired now, I used to haul tanker loads of HFCS. Since there was usually a little residue left in the tank, my boss would drain out the residue or "heel" as we called it. Anyway my boss's mother put it in her hummingbird feeder only to discover that any hummingbirds that ate from the HFCS diet would die. This should tell us something - if it kills birds, what does it do for us?

Your article made everything so clear. I have stayed away from soft drinks and sweetened juices like they were poison but didn't know scientifically why. I have Type 2 diabetes and since reading your book have avoided all sweeteners, including stevia. I cannot tell you how much better I feel without all the ups and terrible downs. I play a lot of golf and when the "downs" came it was devastating. I felt completely out of control, mindless and couldn't even swing a club.

I've followed your Phase I program for the past six weeks pretty much religiously and don't want to add anything.

I've read Ultrametabolism from cover to cover and I am so pleased with the detailed info I am now armed with. I've suffered from asthma and migraines for so many years... I've been following the prep stages for a few weeks and gearing up for Phase One on Sunday. I'm enjoying my baggy clothes and looking forward to shopping for smaller Fall clothes!! I have guided my children into label reading and they are the best detectives!!! Even finding HFCS as the first ingredient in the sports bars at Whole Foods! Your book is about to blow the food industry wide open! And to think, just because it's in a "healthy" store, we've been lead to shop "blind-healthy"! Yikes!
Wish me luck!

Thank you so much for your reminder about sugar, in general, and HFCS, in particular. But, oh! must we forego ICE CREAM, too? During global warming?! That is truly a sacrifice.

As a teacher, I am looking forward to the day when HFCS beverages are totally banned from sales in schools. Many drinks and foods contain this ingredient, while the packaging conveys the appearance of being "natural" and "healthful". The best thing any of us can to is educate ourselves and READ THE LABELS.

how come the doctor is not answering any of your questions here...hmmm

Dr. Hyman,
Thank you for the info on HFCS and its risks. I was unaware, for the most part. I don't eat a lot of stuff with HFCS, however, I have eaten enough to have gain a lot of weight.
I have been trying to figure out why I am hungry all the time and can't seem to take any of the weight off. I will follow your suggestions and see what happens. Thanks again.
Dolly

Dr. Hyman,
I would like to thank you, first for your books, Ultrametabolism & UltraPrevention, & secondly for the website. My wife had an TIA a little over 3 months ago (she's only 45!) & after a scary 4 days in the hospital, the doctor's could not find the cause & said it was likely do to high cholesterol, genetic factors & smoking. Needless to say, having an event like a TIA (which the doctor said was a "warning" event) was enough to get her to stop smoking. For the cholesterol, she started taking Mevacor, but we wanted to do more than just go on a "low fat" diet. I happened upon your book on amazon.com while searching for something that would make both of us healthier. After the first 50 pages, I was hooked! What you say about the medical community is so true, & I became determined to try your suggestions at becoming healthy for life. To sum up our story, I have lost 30 pounds in the 3 months since & my wife has lost 20 pounds, but more than the weight loss is the way we feel! It is truly amazing when we think back on how long and how many toxins we previously put in our body . Needless to say, we are both now lookibng forward to long & healthy lives, thanks in a big part to you. God Bless, Kevin

Dear Dr. Hyman, I am a 69 year old Grandma that has been diagnosed with "fatty liver" and it is sometimes painful. I have tried different ways to lose the weight (5'3", 220)to no avail.
I have your book.
I like it.
I think it has the answers I've been looking for.
I will begin tomorrow and I am hopeful.
Thank you for you dedication to the truth of how food affects our body,mind and spirit.

I have been reading through a lot of these posts and have notice a couple of things.
First off, why is the good doctor not answering questions and helping anyone out.
Second, it sounds as if this is a high maintainance diet. Some can't afford it, some don't have the time for prep work, and some aren't even losing. I'ts great that you are feeling better, but it would be nicer if one lost pounds as well.
I would like to make a suggestion.
Goto www.ricedietprogram.com. This a a solid, proven diet. They even have a clinic in Durham where people go to to get the help they need.
The forums are FULL of people who are experiencing GREAT results, and are more then happy to answer your questions and pat you on the back.
There is also a member from the Clinic(as well as some of their clients) that would be more then happy to answer your questions, unlike the good doctor here.
Just thought I'd throw in my two cents

My wife and I have been on the UM eating plan for two weeks, just starting detox week 1 after a week of prep. Amazing results! Is there a discussion list where we can discuss? Also, does Katherine Swift have more recipes? We might run out of ideas after we work through her excellent ones in the book.

More people need to know the bad effects of HFCS. I am sensative to anything that is a corn derivative. So, I have to read every label or I can end up with a migraine. Most people do not know that there are other forms of corn deriviative like Maltodextrin. So, if a person is allergic or sensative to corn, they need to look for the
other names that they use for ingredients made from corn. I often talk to people who are sensative to corn and they have never connected HFCS to their sensativity and now know why they get headaches or stomach aches. I feel that it is one of the foods causing a lot of problems for our children with their health. How do we get the companies to see how damaging this product is???

I DO notice that the mornings that I have a piece of toast with jam or anything with sugar, I am ravenously hungry the rest of the day. When I have oatmeal with a teeny bit of honey and some raisins I dont' think about lunch for hours and hours.

I am shocked. I'm a long-term type 1 (juvenile-onset, insulin-dependent)who prides herself on whole-food, healthy nutrition choices for my family. I just went to my refrigerator and found that the organic jam had HFCS in it. So did the coleslaw dressing I was planning to use for dinner and the Activia yogurt I was planning to eat as a snack. The pantry? Even my 100% whole wheat bread contains HFCS! I let this insidious culprit creep into my life without noticing it. THANKS for the wake-up call.

At the end of May 2006 I dropped drinking Diet Coke (was HIGHLY addicted!) and substituting 100% Cranberry, Pomegranate juices, & water in its place. I made some other drastic changes in my diet (no salt or black pepper, added flaxseed and flaxseed oil daily) and dropped 30 lbs. I also have not had any migraines.... really no headaches to speak of since then.

I have been having the same good results by following the "Eat Right 4 Your Type" plan in the book written by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. Feeling better than I have in years, de-toxing. My family has also benefited.

I have just recently been reading your info, but have been noticing the similarities between the things I'm trying to do and the suggestions you make. For instance, if I drink milk or eat cheese I wake up with a sinus-type headache and with a "normal" diet I live with loose bowels. However, if I severely limit sugar, salt and animal fats, eat lots of fruit and veggies and very little red meat, I feel great, have lots of energy, have no digestive problems and feel great. So it works.

I had many allergies/sensitivities to food as well as cleaning products, medicines, etc. which were majorly taken to the extreme after a long-term, low-level exposure to a substance. I was lucky to hear of a group of drs., under the direction of Dr. Sherry Tenpenny who runs the office of Osteomed II (www.osteomed.com). They use an allergy elimination treatment that combines three medical procedures: kinesiology, homeopathy and acupuncture/acupressure. They literally saved my life where conventional drs. failed..... much like your work! Kim

I have the book. It makes sense. I'm doing the program BUT, why doesn't Dr. Hyman respond to any of these questions?

I read the book and
1. There are no doctors within a 300 miles of me that have a idea about this.
2. I started using the book as instruction and I have lost 21 lbs, and I am never hungry and feel great!

The problem is I went to the Doctor today and my blood pressure is 158/84. How do I get that down without taking medication?

Dr. Hyman, what are your
thoughts on Serotonin with
5HTP? I would be most interested in your opinion.
Thank you, Gesine

Click this link for another well-researched article on HFCS A Killer On The Cob.

TC

I wonder if it is okay to eat Fava beans in phase I of the eating plan. I do not see them mentioned in either the recommended foods or those to avoid.

Thanks,
Lois

After I read the article on HFCS I started to cut this from my diet. Checking lables I found it in practically everything from bread to salad dressings - yes salad dressings! Since then my appetite has decreased and I feel much better and more awake during the day. I can say I'm convinced this stuff is nothing but pure poison and a great money maker - both for the food industry and for the medicos.

Look, the food industry is fighting back, providing it's own site saying "hey, HFCS isn't so bad."

http://www.hfcsfacts.com/

I'm sure you could have a field day with this site, Dr. Hyman.

If consumers refuse to buy foods containing HFCS, eventually the makers of processed foods may get the message and produce foods that don't contain it. In the short run, however, I'm seeing some terms on food labels that may simply be sneaky attempts to call HFCS by another name - in the same way that manufacturers have various ways of hiding the presence of MSG by calling it something else. In particular, I've seen ingredients described simply as "corn syrup" and - on a Ben & Jerry's ice cream label - something called "liquid sugar." I've long since stopped buying canned soups and other items with hidden MSG, and now I'll have to add commercial ice cream to my list of "things I don't buy because I don't know what's really in them."

I agree that it would be great to have a forum for question and answer. I must point out that at the end of the article, it says to post your comments, it doesn't say Dr. Hyman will answer questions!

Note to all: I found under "other links" where we can ask questions of Dr. Hyman/staff.

Re: Sugars

I have started to avoid processed sugars, fructose, refined, raw etc.; however I do use sparingly, with my morning oatmeal and one cup of coffee, a tablespoon of pure Maple Syrup as a substitute. I have never used artificial sweetners.

Is Maple Syrup a reasonable substitute diet wise? Pro? Cons?

Thanks

I understand the dangers of High Fructose Corn syrup, but when reading a product label, and 'fructose' is mentioned as an ingredient, how can I know if it is a real fruit sugar, or the corn syrup fructose?

I cannot seem to find an answer to this on the web. THanks!