Fructose sweeteners continue to take it on the chin.

A high-profile debate is taking place over the adverse effect of fructose sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup.   On one side, the commercial sweetener industry employs fructose on a massive - and massively profitable  - scale, the best example being the HFCS that’s in just about every supermarket food.  The industry maintains that fructose is, essentially, no worse for you than other sugars, and they’ve enlisted the help of slick high-profile TV ads to advocate for the safety of high fructose corn syrup in a non-technical, feelgood sort of way (it’s ‘natural’, it’s ‘made from corn’, ‘real men’ don’t care, etc). On the other side are  researchers and health professionals.  These scientists  have been searching for a way to explain the explosion in obesity and obesity harbingers like insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.  This explosion more-or-less coincides with the introduction and rapid, widespread adoption of high fructose corn syrup. At this time in  2009, HFCS has already been the subject of many damaging studies, and while these researchers aren’t taking to the airwaves with their findings, the tide seems to be steadily turning against the industry as more consumers and health experts just put two-and-two together and finally steer clear of fructose sweeteners altogether. (more…)

Lighten up your love life!

People have used the power of foods and herbs to enhance their love lives since time immemorial.  Some of these foods have more of a scientific basis for being effective (note the zinc content of oysters) than others (powdered rhino horn).  But besides oysters and heart-shaped pizza, there are other foods and herbs that can enhance your love life, too. (more…)

Truvia: The New Stevia Sweetener.......

Recent press releases and news reports (including an AllStarHealth blog post) revealed that the controversial sweetener stevia herb was finally about to go mainstream as major soda manufacturers announced their intention to begin using a newly-approved sweetener called Trvuvia in low calorie drinks.   Truvia’s manufacturer makes a big deal over the fact that it’s an herbal product,  and that it’s stevia, in particular  but when you look at the ingredient label (more…)

Don't believe the hype! Here's a real superfood, unsweetened organic cocoa powder.

Acai is getting a lot of attention as a hot new ‘superfood‘ thanks to endorsements from celebrity dermatologist Dr. Perricone, the multi-level marketing operation behind the over-hyped MonaVie, and other interests.

‘Superfood’ is a term a lot of people hadn’t ever even heard until recently.  But when it started being used to promote acai berries, something clicked in the public’s mind. Maybe it’s the welcome and intuitive change in thinking that whole foods can be just as good for us as supplement capsules and tablets.

But ’superfood’ isn’t a technical or specific term, anyone can call anything a superfood.  To be a legitimate superfood, we think a product or substance has to meet 3 criteria: (more…)

Don't let that sweet tooth bite off chunks of your health!

Q: My Dad’s health is taking another step down… His weight is starting to go up, because his heart is keeping him from getting his usual exercise… And his monthly physical yesterday came back, and they told him “You are borderline Diabetic… You need to get your diet under control…”
I know that he’s going to go looking for cheats and treats… Especially when it comes to his sweet tooth (Which I also inherited.) Figured I’d see if you guys had some ideas of stuff that’s on the GI friendly side, that will still make a sweet tooth happy late on a Tuesday night.

For instance I was thinking about making him a tub of Blueberry Frozen Yogurt… Half Sweetend up with splenda…Thanks for any help.

Walter “Wally” Pike,

Mountain Iron, MN

A:  Thanks for writing, Wally. We certainly do have a few options for you and your Dad to consider. (more…)

Fructose is a naturally-occurring sugar found in fruits and vegetables. It’s also concentrated in corn syrup and increasingly used as a sweetener for , well, almost every type of mass market processed food or beverage. These commercial foods and drinks - and not fruits and vegetables - are the source of most of the fructose in the average American’s diet, and it turns out there is a lot of fructose in the American diet. (more…)