Question: How can I avoid eating high fructose corn syrup in my diet?

Dr. Brownstein's Answer:

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is made from a group of corn syrups that have undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose. Generally, it consists of 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. The processing enhances the sweetness of the end product; HFCS is 2.3 times sweeter than glucose. It’s also less expensive than other sweeteners. That’s why it’s the most commonly used sweetener on the market today.

Research has linked the U.S. obesity epidemic to the use of HFCS, which the food industry began adding to soda, breads, pasta, and cereals in the 1970s, the same time the obesity problem began to show signs. HFCS has also been tied to heart disease, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and gout.

The next time you’re in the grocery store, take a look at the ingredients in packaged foods. You’ll find that almost all of them contain some percentage of high fructose corn syrup. Here are a few simple tips for avoiding HFCS:

1. Don’t drink canned or bottled beverages, including sodas, sports drinks, and any “juice” that is not labeled 100 percent organic.

2. Don’t eat fast food.

3. Limit your intake of the “whites,” including pastas, breads, and anything else containing refined grain.

4. Read labels.

5. Eat whole, fresh foods.