How to Eliminate High-Fructose Corn Syrup From a Diet

High-fructose corn syrup has been linked to the rise in obesity in America as well as the earlier onset of diabetes. Typically, corn byproducts are genetically modified, thus causing an environmental concern. Eliminating high-fructose corn syrup from your diet offers long-lasting health benefits for young and old alike.

Instructions

1. Start disposing of the foods you already have. Go through your refrigerator, pantry and snack shelves. Read labels and toss foods with high-fructose corn syrup. What you find may surprise you. Most breads contain high-fructose corn syrup. Pay careful attention to beverage and beverage mixes as well.

2. Write a shopping list. Things that will likely need replacing include ketchup, breads, beverages and most sweets. All of these items have alternatives that contain table sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. If you can eliminate extra sweets from your diet, it will make the task of looking for substitutes much easier.

3. Head to your favorite grocer. You will not need to visit any specialty stores to find what you need. Most grocery chains are becoming aware that shoppers want alternative and organic items and provide these as a convenience.

4. Shop the store systematically. Since you are there to purchase items that you may never have had before, you will need to start at one end of the store and work your way to the other. Give yourself plenty of time to find what you need. If you are having difficulty, ask someone for help.

5. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup when you are dining out. The best rule of thumb is to avoid fast food altogether. Fast food restaurants love high-fructose corn syrup. At restaurants, order vegetables and meats and ask if their breads are made fresh. Food that is in it's unprocessed form will never contain high-fructose corn syrup.

6. Introduce others to life without this sweetener. When you enter into new eating habits, having support is important. The more people who remove high-fructose corn syrup from their diets, the better.

Tips & Warnings

• Bread products can be the hardest to find without high-fructose corn syrup. Bake your own in a bread machine fo bread you can feel good about.

• Do not assume that organic means the item contains no high-fructose corn syrup. Read every label carefully. Products can claim to be made with organic ingredients but still contain the non-organic high-fructose corn syrup.