High Fructose Corn Syrup: 9 Recipes to Help You Avoid It.

Posted by Matt on June 18th, 2009 at 09:27am

Chances are, if you have looked at any food label, you have seen high fructose
corn syrup. Americans eat foods with high fructose corn syrup every day, from
cookies and candy to granola bars and salad dressing. High fructose corn
syrup, made by converting the starch in cornstarch into sugars, is a cheap
sweetener and preservative used in processed foods to sweeten it and to
extend its shelf life. 

Some research conducted on high fructose corn syrup claims that it is worse
for you than sugar and the consumption of foods with high fructose corn syrup
is a chief cause of obesity. However, other research indicates that high
fructose corn syrup has the same health effects as other sweeteners and is not
the chief cause of obesity.

Even with conflicting research, Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky
recommends moderation. Often times, foods containing sweeteners like high
fructose corn syrup are foods with lots of calories and little nutrients, like soda.
Such foods, if consumed in large volumes, can have serious health risks.

If you are concerned about high fructose corn syrup, then a great way to avoid
it is to make the food yourself so you can avoid buying and eating processed
food. Here are 9 recipes to help you avoid high fructose corn syrup:

Lavender Pink Lemonade
Sweet drinks are often the biggest sources of high fructose corn syrup.
Sometimes though, on a sticky summer day, all you want is a sweet, cool drink
to quench your thirst. This lemonade recipe is delicious and aromatic, and better
than store-bought varieties. 

Iced Rhubarb Tea
Although tea is generally touted as a healthy drink, many commercial teas and
iced teas contain copious amounts of high fructose corn syrup as well. If you
want to avoid high fructose corn syrup without giving up iced tea, then try this
delicious recipe. 

Baked Sweet Potato Chips
You might not think of chips as sweet, but many do contain high fructose corn
syrup. This recipe is just as tasty as any chip, and the sweet potato adds natural
sweetness and nutrients.

Lemon Citrus Balsamic Salad Dressing
Many salad dressings contain oil, and those that do not have oil have high
fructose corn syrup. This delicious salad dressing recipe has no oil and no high
fructose corn syrup.

Gummy Bears
A childhood favorite, gummy bears are sweet, chewy, delicious and filled with
artificial sweeteners. Rekindle classic tastes by making your own gummy bears.

Red Licorice Candy Bars
Another childhood classic unfortunately riddled with artificial sweeteners. Make
red licorice candy that is just as good as you remember except without high
fructose corn syrup.

Apricot Oatmeal Granola Bars
Like tea, granola bars are often touted as a healthy alternative snack, even
though they often have high fructose corn syrup and other artificial sweeteners.
Make truly healthy granola bars at home with this recipe. 

Chewy Exercise Granola Bars
Walk into any supermarket or health food store, and you're bound to see
dozens of varieties of nutrition supplement bars, from after-workout protein
bars to on-the-go complete meal bars. Many claim to be super-nutritious, but
many are chocked with artificial sweeteners. Take a break from the packaged
nutrition bars and chew on this recipe.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
OK, so a cookie is never really nutritious or healthy, but at least you know
exactly what is in this one.

Under Healthy Recipes