Reasons to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup

With many people looking at different ways to improve their health and overall diet, there is one additive in most processed food and drinks that is often overlooked due to its prevalence and universal use.  High fructose corn syrup can be found just in just about every processed food you can imagine. Scientific studies have looked into the health impacts of this sweetener and show many reasons why you should avoid it.

What Is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

This name designates a large group of sweeteners derived from corn syrup.  Corn refiners will use an enzymatic process to cause the corn syrup to change some of the glucose into fructose, increasing the sweetness.

This sugar substitute is found in a large amount of products, especially those sold within the United States and Canada.  It is commonly found in soft drinks, breads, cereals, soups, condiments and other highly processed foods and drinks.

It is considerably cheaper to use instead of table or cane sugar, mainly because of tariffs imposed on sugars imported into the US.

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup A “Natural” Product?

The Corn Refiners Association has spent considerable energy trying to convince consumers that high fructose corn syrup is a natural product, since it is derived from corn.  Critics argue however, that since the corn has been heavily processed to increase sweetness, it should not be considered an all-natural product.

As of September, 2010, the Corn Refiners Association has attempted to change the name to “corn sugar,” by arguing that it makes labeling clearer for consumers.  Critics have shot back that such a change is only attempting to deceive the public into thinking that the product is a true sugar.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Obesity and Diabetes

Many studies have taken place to find any links between the growth of obesity and diabetes in the past 50 years to the rising usage of high fructose corn syrup during the same time period.

All but a few have shown striking links to obesity when high amounts of food and beverages containing high fructose corn syrup are consumed.  Tests sponsored by the American Beverage Institute, the Corn Refiners Association and Tate & Lyle, a large corn refiner, found that the rate of obesity, diabetes and other diseases is no higher when consuming HFCS as it is with other sweeteners.

Studies have also shown that a diet rich in high fructose corn syrup will lead to a reduction in insulin sensitivity, a risk factor in type 2 diabetes.

Mercury Found In High Fructose Corn Syrup

Mercury is a toxic element to the human body; even minor amounts can cause many health issues.

Studies regarding high fructose corn syrup have revealed that trace amounts of mercury may be found in the sweetener.  One study, done in 2005, showed that nine out of twenty samples of high fructose corn syrup contained mercury.

It appears that the mercury can be traced to certain chemicals being used to create the sugar substitute, including sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.  Whether the mercury was derived from the chemicals used in the process or is a by-product of making HFCS is unknown at this time.  More studies are underway to find this link.

Other Considerations

High Fructose Corn Syrup consumption has also been linked to cardiovascular disease, due to the buildup of uric acid it creates, and metabolic syndrome.  Metabolic syndrome, suffered by nearly 50 million Americans, is a high risk factor in the onset of diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

The rates of these diseases has increased at the same time that HFCS has increased, leading many scientists believe that the two are closely related.  Ongoing studies are being conducted to investigate the links.

For those people trying to improve their health and control their weight, consumption of high fructose corn syrup should be avoided.  Though studies are still underway to prove positively the links to obesity and other health related problems, the evidence is rapidly mounting. 

Treat your body like a spiritual entity and food as a sacrifice to honor it. Careful consideration should be given before consuming any processed foods. Natural, whole foods, or foods that are organic in nature are easier for your body to process. Look for sodas that contains real sugar (such as Throwback Pepsi, which is made with the original recipe before they turned to HFCS to cut costs), and make an effort to drink water instead when possible. Small dietary changes add up throughout the course of a lifetime.

5 Ways to Become Financially Stable

Due to the rising and falling global economy, many people have found themselves in difficult times.  Between job loss and the rising costs of goods, home loans and bills are being defaulted on every month, and people are feeling the pressure.  Becoming financially stable is critical to overcoming these problems, but what can be done to help?

Find the Best Deals for What You Use

Most manufacturers will offer discount programs for repeat customers, and even grocery stores have joined in on this. If you haven’t already, consider applying for an Airmiles card or a Sobey’s points card, and be sure to take advantage of the many great sales that arise at those stores.

Saving even a small amount of money on items that you commonly use can go a long way to helping you become financially stable.  Find ways to buy in bulk or wholesale; be sure to buy long dated product (not soon to expire), and freeze what you can.  An advantage to this is that you will not have to pay for gas to get back and forth, as well.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

It can be tempting to get a second or even a third job to meet your financial goals, but that can bring problems of its own.

Not only will your health and home life be affected greatly by working so much, you will also have to consider the costs of transportation and the amount of extra eating on the go you would do.  The costs of this can more than use up the money you are earning at the job.

There are many companies using outsourced and contracted workers from home in many different fields.  Working from home in this manner can bring a significant amount of cash to the household, as well as saving costs of transportation.

Or, if you have a lot of extra stuff that you’re willing to part with, consider selling it at a garage sale or on eBay. Items such as video games, movies, books and jewelry are cheap to ship and can bring in a pretty penny.

Set, and Keep, Financial Goals

One of the best ways to become financially stable is to set goals for the future.

These goals do not have to be large, but having a plan to work through can help you to focus on what is required.

For example, if you are behind on your bills, but you make enough income to be able to cover them all, find out what you are spending that is forcing you into the debt.  If you are spending a lot more at the grocery store than you intend, start shopping smarter by buying generic products or cutting back on junk purchases.

If you do not have enough income to cover all your bills, ask yourself what bills you can drop.  The basic necessities are all that is required; you do not have to have cable television or an extra cell phone contract. Internet is often available at work or in coffee shops. Determine what you need and cut what you don’t feel you will miss.

Cut Your Credit Cards

Remember that if you are using credit cards to meet your needs, you are putting yourself deeper in the hole with each use.

No matter how good the interest rates are on a credit card, it is still creating more debt for yourself.  It is during those times that the need to buckle down and cut back on expenses is crucial.

Many people who were deep in debt have become financially stable because they stopped using credit cards.  Either get rid of them altogether, or put them in a safe place for emergency use only.

Learn to Think Like You Are Stable

It is true that when your outlook is positive, positive results will occur.

If you are currently financially unstable, the one factor that will help you achieve success is to realize that it is possible to become debt-free and financially stable.  It will not happen overnight, but it will happen if you work towards it.

Many people have been in the same position as you throughout history, and have found their way back to financial stability.  Being responsible, cutting back on expenses and having goals will help you a great deal in getting yourself there.

5 Tips to be Well Prepared for a Job Interview

Since the economy took a downturn, many people have found themselves looking for a new job.  With so many people searching out these new jobs, competition has grown fierce over any openings that appear.  What can you do to make sure you are well prepared for a job interview, enough that you can land that new job?

Believe in Yourself

If you do not have confidence in yourself and your abilities to do the new job, it will show.  Your potential employer will be quickly turned off from your lack of belief in yourself and will simply consider the next applicant.

If you do not believe in your abilities, why should your employer?

Dress For Success

It may be a cliché, but the truth is, your appearance is a large part of your interview.  Dressing like a professional will help your potential employer see that you care enough about the job interview, and likely will about the job, as well.

If you go to the interview dressed in ripped jeans and tee shirt, what does that say about you?

Research the Company

The internet is the single largest source of information in the history of mankind, so put it to good use by researching the company you are applying for.

When an employer is interviewing a potential hire, they like to hear questions regarding the job and work environment.  If you have done research, you can intelligently ask questions that you already know the answer to, simply to appear as if you are interested.

For example, if you are applying for an insurance firm, asking questions about how they treat different situations that might come up will do wonders for making it appear that you hold an actual interest in working for them, instead of just being desperate for a job.

Don't Badmouth Your Former Employer

Nothing turns an employer off faster than to hear you bash your former employers.  Even if they were the worst company you have ever worked for, never badmouth them to the interviewer.

The reason is simple: if you are willing to trash-talk one employer, you are able to do it to them, too.

If you left the former company in bad circumstance, you can explain the situation, but do it in a tactful, intelligent and reasoned manner.  You do not have to make it a sob story or make it seem you are holding a grudge.

Have a Strong Resume

Your resume says a lot about you, and the more it says, the better.

It is a smart idea to tailor your resume to match what a potential employer is looking for.  Don't just have one that you copy for every job interview; take the extra time to create a new one for each one you are applying for.

If you lack job experience in the field you are applying for, you can “pad” previous experience to fit the job requirements a little better.

For example, if you are applying for a data entry job, but lack data entry work experience, but have worked as a waitress, you could put down in your resume that a part of your duties as a waitress was entering customer data into the menu-tracking system.

Even if you only wrote down the customer's order on a pad of paper, it appears that you have data entry experience.

Of course, some potential employers will ask questions about this type of thing, but most do not, and those that do usually find it quite humorous.

In the end, it all comes down to exuding confidence, making sure that you understand what the employer will need from you, and being professional.  Of all the things potential employers look for, these five will take you far in your search for your next job.