Thursday, March 20, 2008

42 lbs of What??

found above image here

This week I read that as a country we each on average ingest 42 lbs of corn syrup a year. I read this after I drank my corn syrup laden lemonade and thought about how gross that is. Here is the link to the article I read while I waited for the dentist to tell me I'll have the joy of having a root canal. Corn Syrup: 1 Sassy: 0.

FOURTY.TWO.POUNDS. Of Corn Syrup! Each year on average. That's disgusting! What does that even look like? I don't know, I couldn't find a picture of it but lovely
Jane was sweet enough to email me this picture she just happened to have...for... I don't know why. But thanks anyway Jane!
Just thought I'd share that with y'all. Pretty gross huh? I guess that's why as we start exercising we should really judge our weight loss in inches rather lbs (or stones if you're Fish, who of course is beautiful as she is. Not that I've seen her...that isn't me outside her apartment with the binoculars, really...I swear). When I was running last year I only seemed to lose 10 lbs but I got much trimmer. Now I can totally see why. I'd always heard muscle weighed more than fat but just look at how much smaller it is!

So back on topic, what are good alternatives to all the corn syrup? I don't know but I learned its not table sugar. But it goes beyond sweetening all our foods, corn is in everything and fed to our beef supply which may be causing some of cow issues. Something about it makes them need antibiotics and increases an certain type of Ecoli. I guess there are different kinds. But really, didn't we always learn that cows eat grass, am I right? Apparently not these days though. Where is
Ree when I need her? I also understand the grass fed beef is yummier too. If I had all the money in the world I would buy only free range eggs, chicken, and beef. It was how they were meant to be. Sorry, I'll get down from my box now.

Now I'm stepping onto another. Sorry, JimmyEW said to add this part. Aside from corn having some not so great health aspects there are economic aspects to this crazy corn cultivation (that, my friends, was alliteration) that are considered negative to both the country and the farm industry. It involves the subsidy of the corn, and over production that drives down prices that increases subsidy which increases production with drives down prices and so on and so forth. Seems like a circular problem to me but I'm no corn or economics professor...do they have corn professors? Probably Agriculture ones, but I digress.

This problem of corn consumption and cultivation impacts more than just the produce and can goods aisle. To understand this issue from someone who actually knows what they're talking about read
here and here. Just thought you'd like to know how much junk we keep eating, I don't have any tips or anything. Someone smarter than I can maybe post a comment telling us what to do. And in case you think I'm pointing fingers everywhere but myself click here.
What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

10 comments:

Sister Honey Bunch/Judi maloney said...

Wow. That picture says it all, doesn't it?

Ashlee said...

My brother gets into political/controversial issues such as what Jimmy is talking about. He wrote something about what Jimmy mentioned a few weeks ago...here is the link...
http://magicvalleymormon.blogspot.com/2008/03/biofuels-kill-children.html#links

Anyway...corn is actually one of the worst veggies to eat if you are trying to lose weight. It has so much starch in it which is apparently bad. And, it's one of the hardest foods to digest because of the thin skin around the kernel. My gramps isn't allowed to eat it.
We still eat it at my house. It's one of the few veggies my baby will eat. :0)
Corn syrup is a whole different story. It is in everything and if you think about what you are ingesting it's truly gross huh? Yet, we still do it. Food is good. :0) But I'd rather have five pounds of the muscle than of that yucky fat. Unfortunately most of my body contains mostly fat. Sigh....

sister Aquanetta said...

I love corn. Corn chips, corn chowder, corn, corn-on-the-cob, corn dogs(lol), corn bread, am I being corny?

Anonymous said...

That picture packs a powerful punch! I need to get back in the gym!!!

Momisodes said...

Oof! That pic just made me think twice about half the stuff in my cupboards. Probably a good thing since they're all going to make me fat.....

Valarie Lea said...

I think I am going to print that picture and put it on my fridge. Grass fed Beef is much better, when we have ours um ya know made into hamburger, it is much leaner, which means better for you.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for making me sound like a freak. Now people will wonder if I secretly worship disgusting pictures of fat vs muscle. It was supposed to motivate me to think about what I was eating...and it did. For a few minutes. Or as long as look at it. Maybe that should be my computer background but the little princess is so much prettier.

Jen said...

This is a big issue for my DH. I try not to have too much processed stuff in the house, between corn syrup and hydrogenated garbage.

Sister Sassy said...

I like corn chowder a lot too. And Ash, you got to feed em what they'll eat. Boogs, when he eats corn, has it all come out in his diaper. Its awful!

Anonymous said...

That's disgusting!

I'll have to increase my intake.