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High-fructose corn syrup. It sounds pretty tasty and makes some of your favorite foods and drinks irresistibly delicious. But how detrimental is this sweet ingredient to your health?

A recent study discovered a link between high-fructose corn syrup and diabetes. A joint study conducted by the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford suggests that Type 2 diabetes rates are higher – a whopping 20 percent more – in countries with the highest rates of high-fructose corn syrup consumption.  The study, published in Global Public Health, also notes that the rates of diabetes are lower in countries where consumption is at a minimum.

The United States tops the study’s list with the highest per capita consumption rate: 55 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup per year. The findings are particularly disconcerting for blacks because Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease – and diabetes disproportionately affects the black population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH), blacks are twice as likely as whites to develop diabetes. In fact, fourteen percent of the black population is afflicted with the disease.

In addition, compared to whites with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that blacks with the disease have a 50 percent chance of going blind, and are from 2.6 to 5.6 times as likely to develop kidney disease. Amputations also increase in likelihood by 2.7 times. And as of 2009, the OMH noted that blacks were 2.2 times as likely to die from complications related to diabetes.

Black women are more likely to be affected by diabetes than any other gender/race combination.  The ADA notes that the disease affects 25 percent of black females over the age of 55.

Genetics may be to blame for the level of susceptibility among black people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that some researchers have concluded that black Americans – and other ethnic groups, such as Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders – are heirs to a “thrift gene.” In essence, their ancestors stored food energy in their bodies during plentiful times so they could survive during times of famine. But now that most of these ethics groups are not subject to issues of food scarcity, the thrift gene has become something of a curse.

In 2010, it was estimated that treating diabetes costs patients $6,000 per year. Of course, that doesn’t take into account any lost wages and quality of life issues, which can’t be quantified.

After the release of this most recent study drawing a connection between diabetes and high-fructose corn syrup, the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) was quick to issue statements discounting the validity of the research. The CRA’s president called the study “severely flawed, misleading, and a poorly conducted analysis.” In addition, the CRA accused the researchers of ignoring other components of a person’s diet that may lead to diabetes.

However, this is not the first time that high-fructose corn syrup has come under fire. In 2004, researchers at Louisiana State University and the University of North Carolina found a link between high-fructose corn syrup and obesity. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggested that “the overconsumption of HFCS in calorically sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity.”

In addition, as far back as 2005, Diabetes Health warned of the dangers of high-fructose corn syrup for diabetics, and cautioned against consuming any food that listed this product as one of its first ingredients. Diabetes Health has not changed their stance, and has provided the following list to help consumers identify popular products that contain the syrupy substance:

• Soft drinks
• Artificial fruit juices and fruit drinks
• Breads, cakes, cookies and other baked goods
• Fruits and vegetables, such as pickles and baked beans
• Salad dressing, pancake syrups, sauces (ketchup, mustard, BBQ)
• Breakfast cereals and bars
• Canned soups
• Canned fruits (in artificial juices)
• Yogurt (frozen and fruit-flavored)

Health is an irreplaceable resource, and identifying and limiting – if not completely avoiding – health-depleting ingredients is one of the most important steps that an individual can take to maintain and improve their physical condition.  An anonymous Facebook quote says it best: “True healthcare reform starts in your kitchen, not in Washington.”

Source: Fashionbombdaily.com

Everyone has been gushing over how amazing Chaka Khan looks, especially after the singer dropped a reported 60 pounds this year, but she’s not trippin.’ In an interview with The Huffington Post, Chaka was asked how she feels about the mixed reaction to her weight loss and being labeled a sex symbol, and she replied:

“I’ve always been a sex symbol. When I was fat I was a sex symbol. Some men like it that, you know. But I don’t think about that. That’s so far from my mind right now [Laughs].”

Alright then, Chaka. She also said she isn’t paying the weight loss surgery rumors any mind either.

“They can say whatever they want. Only I know what’s really going on. My weight loss had to occur, because I was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes and I also had high blood pressure. And I’ve been on medication for that since last year until the beginning of this year. And I ended up going, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no, this is enough. I can’t live like this.’ And I have a new little daughter to raise [my granddaughter], I adopted her so I have to be here. … [She] was really my first and major influence to lose weight and get healthy so I can be here for her. What I did was stopped eating and went on a strict unconditional fast for a couple of months. And went off meat, became vegan, stopped all the dairy, stopped all the meat.”

With that out of the way, Chaka told the reporter what is on her mind, which is capitalizing on the recent surge in interest in the ’70s funk singer. She was asked whether she’d be recording for any new blockbuster hits anytime soon, like she did in the past covering a few James Bond themes, and she replied:

“I certainly hope so. A lot of doors have opened significantly for me since I dropped the weight. And I have mixed reactions to that, but I’m going to strike the iron while it’s hot. So there’s been lots of meetings with lots of people. I’m coming out with a perfume line called, Khanasutra, a line of candles, and Chaka Lips for the holidays.

Ms. Khan also has a new album in the works, with plans to drop a few singles over the summer. The finished product won’t be out until next year, but when it hits, it will mark the 59-year-old’s 40th anniversary in the music business.

“Yes, it’s a big moment for me,” she said. “I’m still in the mix, still doing it. And even a lot better now, because I’m in much better shape than I was in the last 10 years. So everything is going really well.”‘

It’s good to see she’s still doing her thing!

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I’m sure you’re just as tired of trying to do the right thing when it comes to your health as I am. Picking up salads and vegetables, watching your portions when you want to stuff your face and walking past the delectable cakes in the grocery store because you know your self-control is limited are just a few of the things I’ve been trying to be better about. Yeah, eating better sucks a**. But knowing what we now know about popular foodie Paula Deen and the new home delivery option that could be coming soon thanks to Burger King, it only makes sense to do better at watching what we eat since it’s pretty clear that no one else cares to lead by example.

Deen, the host of Paula’s Home Cooking on the Food Network, is known for not skimping when it comes to portion size or fats and sugar for the meals she makes on the popular show. Like Krispy Kreme donuts? Deen says you should make a hamburger out of it by throwing ham, cheese AND bacon in between two glazed donuts for the ultimate rot your teeth and give yourself a heart attack meal (*Note: there were no vegetables on this burger). While it all seemed like mouth watering fun and games, Deen announced that she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes THREE years ago. She might want to play games about it, but we all know it probably does stem in some ways from her sweet tea downing, sugar and butter on everything way of living. Why wait three years? She claims she wanted to have more knowledge about the disease before speaking out, but critics think she came out about it because she just signed a deal with a lucrative diabetes drugmaker. Wow. Her unhealthy food choices may have played a part in her current health, but they’ve also made her a fortune. Therefore, at the cost of losing some of those dollars and cents, it seems Deen has been playing people for a fool for years while she stacked cash. I’m sure she’s changed her way of cooking and eating at home since being diagnosed, but on her show? A little bit more sugar here, a little bit more butter there, a little bit more salt…everywhere. Do better for yourself and sell the world high cholesterol.

And word on the street is that Burger King is testing the idea of offering home delivery by doing a few test runs in Maryland and Virginia. Great. I think for people like me who have struggled with weight and eating better, half the reason you decide to cook your own meals and work with what healthier options you have in the house is because after a long day at work, you’re not feeling like jumping in the car, or hopping on a train just to pick up some food. Distance doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, it makes your self-control a lot better. So if the home delivery option gets green lighted, who knows how many people will be calling at all times of the night, stuck in pajamas they’ve been wearing all day as they lounge on the couch, stuffing their face with double whoppers and fries. I truly doubt folks will be calling someone to rush over with the salad with the mandarin oranges and a diet coke. Yeah, right. Not only can you cop Chinese food and pizza, but now burgers hot off the grill could be on there way.

As I stated earlier, it’s more important now than ever to start eating better and taking good care of your health. Seriously, with the world around us and the people in it worried most about profiting off of the fat that winds up on your midsection and butt, clogging your arteries and helping you end up with diabetes rather than helping to aid in the fight against obesity, it’s time we stop expecting others to do better for us and just start doing better ourselves. Stop wishing McDonalds would make their salads cheaper and go buy a bag at the store. I would love to see Paula drop a stick of butter or two out of her foods for the health and well-being of her devoted fans, but she’s made it clear that she wont. And I’d love to see people not order the fattiest and greasiest of foods just because they can, but people wont, because if BK has their way, you’ll easily be able to. I think I’ve learned that I have to stop waiting for people to influence me on TV and in everyday life (and on menus) to watch my portions, stop eating so damn late and start eating more green (and less beef). The best thing for me is to just start motivating myself. Because if I wait on Paula to do it, or for cafe by my job to help/force me to do it, I’ll be looking like Rasputia from Norbit in no time.

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With diabetes affecting one in four African American women over the age of 55, now is the perfect time to make sure you won’t be one of them when you get there. While race, age and family history can greatly influence your chances of developing the condition, there are certain lifestyle choices and behaviors that can reduce the risk. So if you have relatives who are living with disease or if you are in jeopardy of developing diabetes, check these tips out and you’ll be well on your way to controlling your sugar.

Taking two low-dose diabetes drugs may slow down the onset of type 2 diabetes according to a new study.

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