Sunday, May 30, 2010
Introduction to High Fructose Corn Syrup and Obesity
This research paper, titled "High Fructose Corn Syrup and Obesity" was our last major writing assignment. I chose this for several reasons, first of all I enjoyed the freedom we had in choosing our topic. We also had more time which allowed me to do a fair amount of research and several revisions. There was a lot of good articles that both supported my opinion and provided an opposing view. We are more conscious of our diets today then we have ever been, but we are also exposed to more artificial processed foods than ever. This has had an enormous impact on our health and we're hitting record highs for obesity. The biggest improvement I made was in the research process, I was able to find some good evidence to support my theory. "According to various sources high fructose corn syrup has been used in America since the 1970’s which has a direct correlation with obesity issues in the US" (Keller 2). I've been reading ingredient labels for a long time and high fructose corn syrup is used frequently and this was my motivation for writing this piece.
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Obesity
Soda Kills
It’s a well known fact that obesity is a killer, but what’s the root cause of obesity in America? With all the processed, enriched, and fortified foods we eat today this isn’t an easy question and it may not be one that we’ll soon find an answer for. However, there is a strong correlation between the obesity epidemic in America and the use of High Fructose Corn syrup, which is the key ingredient in Soda pop and many other products. Dr. George A. Bray an obesity researcher and professor of medicine at Louisiana State University, says, “Nothing else in the food supply does this, it’s a very striking relationship”.
What is high fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup or HFCS was designed in a laboratory by scientists and is a chemically altered version of corn syrup that is extracted from any variety of corn. According to an article posted in the Los Angeles Times, HFCS was created by Japanese scientists in the 1960’s. They used enzymes to convert cornstarch into a liquid that was high in fructose, a “sweet sugar found in fruit and honey” (Allen 202). The chemical make-up of HFCS is similar to sucrose, or table sugar, in that it contains nearly the same amount of both fructose and glucose. However sucrose is a more natural product it’s extracted from sugar cane rather than made in a laboratory. Thousands and thousands of products contain HFCS. Many people think of it as a sweetener used in drinks, which is a very common place to find HFCS, but in reality it’s used as a sweetener in most processed foods in America and it’s becoming more common throughout the world. It can be found in condiments, pastries, desserts, and any other processed foods.
There are many Americans that deny the fact that HFCS is having an effect on obesity; many of them employed by the corn industry. A PR Newswire article states, “HFCS account for about one-half of sweetener use in the United States but only eight percent worldwide, yet obesity rates are climbing in countries that use little or no high fructose corn syrup. Sugar remains the predominant global sweetener” (PR Newswire 1). Some say that cane sugar is just as bad for us, which may be true, but the low price tag on HFCS is what’s causing us to over consume. The abundance of subsidized corn that we produce in America allows us to manufacture the syrup at a fraction of what we traditionally paid for cane sugar that was primarily imported from Mexico and South America. These extra calories have a direct impact on our weight. High fructose corn syrup is so inexpensive to produce that we’ve seen an explosion of cheap drinks. Thus fast food chains and bottling companies are able to provide “super sized” drinks at rock bottom prices. The serving sizes exploded from twelve to sixty-four ounces. Grocery stores often sell generic sodas for less than what they sell their bottled water for. The dollar store sells two liter bottles for only ninety-nine cents. None of this was true before the mid 1970’s when HFCS was perfected, creating syrup that was “55 percent fructose and 100 percent as sweet as sugar” (King 1). Traditional sugar was too expensive.
According to various sources HFCS has been used in America since the 1970’s which has a direct correlation with obesity issues in the US. This doesn’t necessarily mean that high fructose corn syrup is the primary cause; there have been many changes to the way our foods are processed. There are hundreds of new additives to foods including dyes like yellow 6 and preservatives like “benzoates (such as sodium benzoate) and nitrites (such as sodium nitrite)” (Brain 1). Not to mention all the oils and different forms of fat that we find in just about everything we eat. But we do consume a lot of this new form of sugar, about “62 pounds per person” annually, yep, we get about “200 calories a day” on average from it (Helm 1). That’s a good reason to point the finger at HFCS.
Some believe that the way HFCS is metabolized makes it contribute to obesity. Its high levels of fructose are harder to digest than other sugars, due to the fact that fructose is primarily “metabolized in the liver” and “the fructose propels the liver into a fat-promoting mode by activating the formation of enzymes that lead to elevated levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides” (King F1). Our bodies are not used to processing sugar in this form, it’s not natural.
Another factor is the affect fructose has on appetite control. “Eating fructose results not only in lower insulin levels but also lower leptin levels” these hormones are both involved in “appetite control” (King F1). This is another example of how HFCS is causing us to over-consume, were eating this stuff and not getting full. The message to stop eating isn’t being delivered to our brain as efficiently as other natural sugars.
There are many factors that play a role in obesity, but there’s no question that the consumption of high fructose corn syrup in America is one of them. HFCS is so common in nearly everything we eat today, from beverages to breakfast cereals it can be found in almost any food product. Cheaper than cane sugars it’s made serving sizes explode and with those larger servings come more calories. We should eat everything in moderation; unfortunately that’s not what’s happening with HFCS and that’s why America is the fattest country in the world.
It’s a well known fact that obesity is a killer, but what’s the root cause of obesity in America? With all the processed, enriched, and fortified foods we eat today this isn’t an easy question and it may not be one that we’ll soon find an answer for. However, there is a strong correlation between the obesity epidemic in America and the use of High Fructose Corn syrup, which is the key ingredient in Soda pop and many other products. Dr. George A. Bray an obesity researcher and professor of medicine at Louisiana State University, says, “Nothing else in the food supply does this, it’s a very striking relationship”.
What is high fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup or HFCS was designed in a laboratory by scientists and is a chemically altered version of corn syrup that is extracted from any variety of corn. According to an article posted in the Los Angeles Times, HFCS was created by Japanese scientists in the 1960’s. They used enzymes to convert cornstarch into a liquid that was high in fructose, a “sweet sugar found in fruit and honey” (Allen 202). The chemical make-up of HFCS is similar to sucrose, or table sugar, in that it contains nearly the same amount of both fructose and glucose. However sucrose is a more natural product it’s extracted from sugar cane rather than made in a laboratory. Thousands and thousands of products contain HFCS. Many people think of it as a sweetener used in drinks, which is a very common place to find HFCS, but in reality it’s used as a sweetener in most processed foods in America and it’s becoming more common throughout the world. It can be found in condiments, pastries, desserts, and any other processed foods.
There are many Americans that deny the fact that HFCS is having an effect on obesity; many of them employed by the corn industry. A PR Newswire article states, “HFCS account for about one-half of sweetener use in the United States but only eight percent worldwide, yet obesity rates are climbing in countries that use little or no high fructose corn syrup. Sugar remains the predominant global sweetener” (PR Newswire 1). Some say that cane sugar is just as bad for us, which may be true, but the low price tag on HFCS is what’s causing us to over consume. The abundance of subsidized corn that we produce in America allows us to manufacture the syrup at a fraction of what we traditionally paid for cane sugar that was primarily imported from Mexico and South America. These extra calories have a direct impact on our weight. High fructose corn syrup is so inexpensive to produce that we’ve seen an explosion of cheap drinks. Thus fast food chains and bottling companies are able to provide “super sized” drinks at rock bottom prices. The serving sizes exploded from twelve to sixty-four ounces. Grocery stores often sell generic sodas for less than what they sell their bottled water for. The dollar store sells two liter bottles for only ninety-nine cents. None of this was true before the mid 1970’s when HFCS was perfected, creating syrup that was “55 percent fructose and 100 percent as sweet as sugar” (King 1). Traditional sugar was too expensive.
According to various sources HFCS has been used in America since the 1970’s which has a direct correlation with obesity issues in the US. This doesn’t necessarily mean that high fructose corn syrup is the primary cause; there have been many changes to the way our foods are processed. There are hundreds of new additives to foods including dyes like yellow 6 and preservatives like “benzoates (such as sodium benzoate) and nitrites (such as sodium nitrite)” (Brain 1). Not to mention all the oils and different forms of fat that we find in just about everything we eat. But we do consume a lot of this new form of sugar, about “62 pounds per person” annually, yep, we get about “200 calories a day” on average from it (Helm 1). That’s a good reason to point the finger at HFCS.
Some believe that the way HFCS is metabolized makes it contribute to obesity. Its high levels of fructose are harder to digest than other sugars, due to the fact that fructose is primarily “metabolized in the liver” and “the fructose propels the liver into a fat-promoting mode by activating the formation of enzymes that lead to elevated levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides” (King F1). Our bodies are not used to processing sugar in this form, it’s not natural.
Another factor is the affect fructose has on appetite control. “Eating fructose results not only in lower insulin levels but also lower leptin levels” these hormones are both involved in “appetite control” (King F1). This is another example of how HFCS is causing us to over-consume, were eating this stuff and not getting full. The message to stop eating isn’t being delivered to our brain as efficiently as other natural sugars.
There are many factors that play a role in obesity, but there’s no question that the consumption of high fructose corn syrup in America is one of them. HFCS is so common in nearly everything we eat today, from beverages to breakfast cereals it can be found in almost any food product. Cheaper than cane sugars it’s made serving sizes explode and with those larger servings come more calories. We should eat everything in moderation; unfortunately that’s not what’s happening with HFCS and that’s why America is the fattest country in the world.
Breatharian Parade Request
4 July 2014
TO: City of Snohomish, Events coordinator
FROM: Billy Williamson, Breatharian Coordinator Region Northwest
SUBJECT: Request for Parade Permit along Main Street in vicinity of Ave 2 and Ave 5, between the hours of 12:00PM – 4:00PM Saturday 19 July, 2014
Sir or Ma’am,
I’d like to first introduce myself; I’m Bill Williamson the Northwest Regional
Coordinator for Breatharian USA. Breatharian USA is a revolutionary new method of
dieting that has dramatically changed the lives of thousands of followers nationwide. Through our five-day seminars we’ve helped people live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
We would like to ask the City of Snohomish for a permit for the dates and times listed above. Along with the permit we would ask that the street be barricaded no later than 11:30AM and remain closed for the duration of the parade. We would also like to request that you provide police presence. We will make appropriate arrangements for sanitary facilities and clean-up crews.
Please take into consideration the enormous impact our program will have on the friends and families of your great community!
Thank you and I look forward to working with you to make this parade a success!
Bill Williamson
TO: City of Snohomish, Events coordinator
FROM: Billy Williamson, Breatharian Coordinator Region Northwest
SUBJECT: Request for Parade Permit along Main Street in vicinity of Ave 2 and Ave 5, between the hours of 12:00PM – 4:00PM Saturday 19 July, 2014
Sir or Ma’am,
I’d like to first introduce myself; I’m Bill Williamson the Northwest Regional
Coordinator for Breatharian USA. Breatharian USA is a revolutionary new method of
dieting that has dramatically changed the lives of thousands of followers nationwide. Through our five-day seminars we’ve helped people live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
We would like to ask the City of Snohomish for a permit for the dates and times listed above. Along with the permit we would ask that the street be barricaded no later than 11:30AM and remain closed for the duration of the parade. We would also like to request that you provide police presence. We will make appropriate arrangements for sanitary facilities and clean-up crews.
Please take into consideration the enormous impact our program will have on the friends and families of your great community!
Thank you and I look forward to working with you to make this parade a success!
Bill Williamson
Introduction to Breatharian Parade Request
The purpose of this writing assignment was to petition the city council to allow us to organize a parade to premote a new diet called "Breatharianism". I wrote the "Breatharian Parade Request" during the first week of class and thought it was a good example of my writing skills early in the quarter. I chose to write a formal letter to the City of Snohomish to petition for a parade that would block several streets.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Dear Reader
Dear Reader
My father was in a panic, he yelled down into the dark focsle, of the Fishing Vessel Jomel, “Get up here he said”. Despite the boat getting tossed up and down by the massive waves, my brother’s and I were in a deep sleep. The towline of the skiff, a smaller boat that we towed behind, had cut loose in the storm. The ten foot swells would surely roll it over and sink it in no time. We all jumped from our bunks, grabbed our pants, and raced into the galley frantically pulling our pants on. My dad told me to go up above and drive the boat. After timing the waves he jumped into the skiff that was smashing into the side of the big boat with every wave. He yelled for me to come get him; I put the boat in gear and swung around for a recovery. The boat stuck in gear and we rose up on a huge swell, the Jomel refusing to go into neutral climbed over the crest of the wave and began to drop over the other side, below us was my dad waving for me to stop, but I couldn’t. My dad dove to the deck and we crashed down onto him with ten tons of steel, which sent the small skiff flying into the darkness. For several minutes I couldn’t see the boat I thought I had killed my father. Finally I caught a glimpse of him and came along to retrieve him. This was just one of many experiences I had on my dad’s boat, as a kid, chasing salmon around Kodiak Island.
I came from the small town of Homer, Alaska, located at the end of the Kenai Peninsula. We were at the end of the road; there was only one way in and one way out. With the exception of a few villages, the nearest town, Soldotna, was two hours away and that’s where we had to go to shop for clothes and just about anything else we needed. My father was a Fisherman and my mother stayed home and raised four kids, three boys and a girl. I knew one day I had to leave this small town for a chance at a better future. I joined the Navy and spent eight years traveling the world, I did three deployments to the Persian Gulf and traveled up and down the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska. I did a lot of writing while I was in the Navy, we wrote e-mails to our families, personnel evaluations twice a year, we wrote in record books and request forms. Writing is like anything else it takes practice and I had lots of practice, but I needed more and this class has given me just that.
I’ve always wanted to sharpen up my writing skills, so I can write about my experiences on the boat, in the Navy, or the time I was nearly trampled by a moose. After digging through most of the degree programs offered by Everett Community College, I realized that English 101 was a basic requirement for all of them. I like writing and have always wanted to learn more about correct grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Writing well is important in any field, whether it’s communicating with peers through e-mail, writing a letter to the town paper, or more formal business letter’s. It’s important that it’s done in a professional manner. I’m not sure what my career path will be, but I know that being able to write will be a necessity. This class has given me a lot of confidence in my writing, now I’m able to write clearly and I have a much better understanding of grammar and sentence structure than I did before.
My father was in a panic, he yelled down into the dark focsle, of the Fishing Vessel Jomel, “Get up here he said”. Despite the boat getting tossed up and down by the massive waves, my brother’s and I were in a deep sleep. The towline of the skiff, a smaller boat that we towed behind, had cut loose in the storm. The ten foot swells would surely roll it over and sink it in no time. We all jumped from our bunks, grabbed our pants, and raced into the galley frantically pulling our pants on. My dad told me to go up above and drive the boat. After timing the waves he jumped into the skiff that was smashing into the side of the big boat with every wave. He yelled for me to come get him; I put the boat in gear and swung around for a recovery. The boat stuck in gear and we rose up on a huge swell, the Jomel refusing to go into neutral climbed over the crest of the wave and began to drop over the other side, below us was my dad waving for me to stop, but I couldn’t. My dad dove to the deck and we crashed down onto him with ten tons of steel, which sent the small skiff flying into the darkness. For several minutes I couldn’t see the boat I thought I had killed my father. Finally I caught a glimpse of him and came along to retrieve him. This was just one of many experiences I had on my dad’s boat, as a kid, chasing salmon around Kodiak Island.
I came from the small town of Homer, Alaska, located at the end of the Kenai Peninsula. We were at the end of the road; there was only one way in and one way out. With the exception of a few villages, the nearest town, Soldotna, was two hours away and that’s where we had to go to shop for clothes and just about anything else we needed. My father was a Fisherman and my mother stayed home and raised four kids, three boys and a girl. I knew one day I had to leave this small town for a chance at a better future. I joined the Navy and spent eight years traveling the world, I did three deployments to the Persian Gulf and traveled up and down the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska. I did a lot of writing while I was in the Navy, we wrote e-mails to our families, personnel evaluations twice a year, we wrote in record books and request forms. Writing is like anything else it takes practice and I had lots of practice, but I needed more and this class has given me just that.
I’ve always wanted to sharpen up my writing skills, so I can write about my experiences on the boat, in the Navy, or the time I was nearly trampled by a moose. After digging through most of the degree programs offered by Everett Community College, I realized that English 101 was a basic requirement for all of them. I like writing and have always wanted to learn more about correct grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Writing well is important in any field, whether it’s communicating with peers through e-mail, writing a letter to the town paper, or more formal business letter’s. It’s important that it’s done in a professional manner. I’m not sure what my career path will be, but I know that being able to write will be a necessity. This class has given me a lot of confidence in my writing, now I’m able to write clearly and I have a much better understanding of grammar and sentence structure than I did before.
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