12
vernonia’s
voice health & wellness
june
2007
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS);
sugar alternative or health threat?
By Heather Lewis, LMT, LMP, CLT
Quiz:
• What has FDA approval?
• Can claim to be 100% natural and/or organic?
• Has no nutrient value, [and in fact, robs your body of essential
micronutrients used to metabolize it]?
• Was not used until the 1970s but now makes up more than 20% of the aver-
age American’s caloric intake by being incorporated into everything from
apple turnovers to worcestershire sauce?
Answer:
High Fructose Corn Syrup.
What exactly is yoga?
Yoga has become very popular as a form of exercise. Many people see pictures of
yogis twisted into pretzels and chanting OM and shy away thinking “I could never
do that, or would not even want to.” But don’t shy away, yoga is for every age and
gender.
The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where
yoga originated, referring to the union occurring between body, mind, and spirit.
Most people think of yoga as asanas, which refers to the practice of physical pos-
tures or poses. Asana is only one of the eight “limbs” or areas of yoga, the majority
of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well being than physical
activity. Today, however, the words asana and yoga have become almost synony-
mous to the practice of physical postures or poses.
Initially yoga students benefit from performing the asanas. These poses are de-
signed to exercise every muscle, nerve, and gland in the body. Refined over centu-
ries, the postures precisely address the tension, holding, and sometimes blockage
of energy in any particular joint or organ. When the tension is released, energy can
flow more easily in the body and allow students to experience a sense of well-be-
ing and strength—a balance of body, mind, and spirit.
In the U.S., while parents try to provide their children nutritious meals,
childhood obesity is growing at the rate of 15% per year. You’ve made a con-
scious effort to exchange the frosted flakes for the raisin bran, and the white
Our society in general is used to sitting on chairs or couches with poor posture for
bread for the whole wheat. The highly processed foods don’t set foot in your
extended periods of time. Our bodies were not designed to be used like this. They
home. Yet looking closely at the label of most manufactured foods you’ll find
were designed to squat, run, walk, lift and do the natural activities of primitive
High Fructose Corn Syrup.
daily existence. The results of these modern postural habits wreak havoc on our
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is the food industries equivalent of
body with muscular shortening, tension, and energy blockages. Most of us are so
nicotine to cigarettes. It not only sets you up for potential liver problems, it hin-
accustomed to holding tension in our body that we don’t recognize the damage that
ders your body’s ability to signal fullness. Fructose was thought of at one time
it’s causing.
to be the sugar alternative.
You see, the tongue tastes sweet but the body metabolizes the fructose
Yoga creates a healthy alignment for your bones, ligaments, and muscles. Another
molecule only 40% as quickly as it metabolizes the glucose molecule. The rea-
one of the eight limbs of yoga, meditation, works with your mind. Meditation gives
son? Glucose can be metabolized in every cell of the body while fructose can
you access to healing, to your inner pharmacy, according to Deepak Chopra, and to
only be metabolized in the liver.
transformation. Our society is so rushed that we are not mindful of things that oc-
In nature fructose is found with glucose and bound with fiber, so the
cur in our lives. We block pain with pills or substances, rush away to avoid things,
body tastes the sweet, uses the glucose and passes the majority of the fructose
and use all sorts of other tactics to avoid feeling these stresses. Stress is the number
through with the fiber. However, pure fructose robs the body of its micronutrient
one root of nearly all disease. Yoga creates awareness, mindfulness, and a way to-
treasures in order to assimilate itself for physiological use. Research indicates
ward relief from stress. With practice over time your skills increase and your stress
that this free fructose interferes with the heart’s use of key minerals like mag-
and tensions decrease. You learn how to surmount seemingly impossible obstacles
nesium, copper and chromium. The livers develop fatty deposits and cirrhosis,
in the practice of yoga.
similar to problems that develop in the livers of alcoholics. Because fructose
In a typical yoga class you would practice the poses, in addition you may receive
needs these key minerals to assimilate, it inhibits collagen and elastin formation,
instruction on breathing, chanting, meditation, or hear inspirational readings. The
hence the hypertrophy of the heart and liver.
variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher. Yoga is taught in
The addictive properties, along with the inhibitory aspect of HFCS,
classroom settings, programs can be designed for personal practice, and there are
happens when fructose ingestion does not allow the brain to increase produc-
many wonderful video, television classes, and
tion of leptin (the hormone that
books available on yoga.
Fitness Training by
triggers fullness). So your tongue
Teresa McMahon, NSCA-CPT
tastes sweet, your body is looking for
503.429.5051
energy normally produced by absorb-
Deborah Steffen RYT is a certified and regis-
503.799.3424
able glucose – and when that is not
Inspire
yourseld
to
be...
tered yoga trainer. She also has a background
available, your brain tells you to keep
Be
Strong,
Be
Confident,
Be
Healthy
eating until it gets that burst of energy
as an instructional designer, holistic health
it’s seeking. Then you eat until the
practitioner, and dance instructor. She teaches
stretch receptors in your stomach tell
yoga related classes at her studio, called
you to stop because you are uncom-
Cedar Mist Studios, 5 miles from Vernonia
fortable, often times, even then you
*Drop Ins Welcome!
Center in a beautiful setting on her farm. Call
still feel hungry. This is what sets
Total Body Conditioning
*All Fitness levels Welcome
503-429-2103 or visit www.CedarMistStudios.
you up for continued cravings.
Improve your overall physical condition
com for more information.
If you’ve been feeling frustrated with using balls weights, balance tools,
Pure
Cardio
jumpropes,
bands
and
more!
your or your family’s eating habits,
Warm up, Burn calories, Cool down.
Mon & Wed 6:30-7:30pm
try omitting items containing HFCS
This class offers a challenging
FRI 3:30pm
from your shopping list. It might
intensity to condition the heart
Mon, Wed & Fri 9am
seem a challenge at first, but well
& lungs while burning more calories
Tues & Thurs 12-1pm
worth the effort.
2 NEW SUMMER CLASS CHOICES*
Bring your soles...
...to yoga.
Easy Fitness Ticket $30/month
(some restrictions and joining fees may apply)
5:45am Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00am Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Childcare available)
7:15pm Monday thru Thursday (Body Sculpting on Wed)
359 A Street • (503)429-0196
Deborah Steffen RYT, HHP
Only 5 miles from Vernonia
Flow Yoga, Gentle Yoga & Privates
Coming Soon
Tai Chi & Mistical Movement
503-429-2103
CedarMistStudios.com