We the Corn People

I am tired of the hypocrisy, lies, and double-talk that make a group of people in this country look as if they care about our health, our weight, our mental state, our economic state, us! I am tired of large companies and our government pretending to be generous, caring and giving, when in reality they have their hands in our back pockets.  I am tired of the word games and lies that fool us into believing someone really cares! 

Now that I got that out, let me explain what has me all revved up this week.

Recently I learned that the USDA  is planning to mandate that all school lunch providers minimize the amount of vegetable starches in school meals across the country.  More precisely, they propose that schools be limited to serving starchy vegetables no more than twice per week, thus restricting servings of potatoes, corn, lima beans, and peas.  Gasp!  Yes, that's how I felt for a second, until I realized they were really trying to limit the excessive offerings of French fries and tater tots. While this is a proactive step, I personally don't believe this country has an issue with over consumption of peas and Lima beans. I mean, let's not throw away the baby with the bath water! 

There is a good deal of controversy surrounding this proposal, but I am going to stay out of it for now and focus on the the hypocrisy of their grandstanding. You see, the USDA is actually continuing its efforts to confuse the public regarding what is and is not healthy.  I mean, why aren't there more mandates regulating the amount of sugar and caffeine served to schoolchildren? These substances are known killers, and our children are clearly suffering the ill effects of ingesting them in quantities unheard of in prior generations! I don't think many would argue that, would they?  Alas, I digress.  

Since the USDA is targeting starches, you need to understand that starch is another word for carbohydrate, and while most people think starches are fattening, the truth is, ounce for ounce, starches contain fewer calories than fat.  The reason for their bad reputation lies in the preparation, or processing. Preparing and/or serving them with those yummy fats makes the harmless starch a stealthy killer. 

Before we go any further, you should know that the body handles starches differently, and that is why you need to know what you are eating.  For example, some starches or carbs like baked goods or anything made with flour, increase blood glucose levels very quickly, while others like whole grains such as brown rice, barley, amaranth, or quinoa are digested more slowly allowing blood sugars to rise slower and over a longer period of time. While others like whole beans and lentils and basically all of your legumes are not digested in the small intestine at all, and cause barely any increase in blood glucose. Meaning that the fats in these foods are oxidized first into energy before they have a chance to be stored as body fat! That includes the Lima Bean! 

Starches that raise blood sugar as quickly, or even quicker, than some sugars do so because processing-grinding, puffing, flaking or rolling them into submission-transforms a perfectly good whole food into a dangerous carb! Grains, especially wheat, have suffered at the hands of processing plants that do the work our digestive system should be doing. Therefore, these types of carbs-flour, most cereals and even some whole grains, turn into sugar efficiently and almost instantly in our bodies! 

There are good starches and the best are whole grains or lentils!  When choosing  grains, select those that are whole and intact when cooked. Think about brown rice, barley, amaranth, or quinoa.  Avoid most baked goods made from flour.  Above all, avoid processed cereals that contain very little fiber.  High fiber cereals are a good choice since they actually contain mostly fiber.  Okay, now that you know what starches are, let's move on to my thoughts about the hypocrisy of limiting the Lima bean. 

American farmers are currently heavily invested in growing a hybrid corn that has allowed corn to enter the industrial world. As a result, corn has found its way into just about everything we consume.   I am simplifying this, and there are many books on the topic that you might find enlightening, but basically, corn is used to make high fructose corn syrup, syrups, starches, and food additives of every kind.  It is found in every form of processed food, and even in your meat since both cattle and chicken are fed industrial corn.  You might be amazed to know that America runs on corn products and byproducts. You fuel your body with some form of corn with almost every bite you take, and you pump its byproduct, ethanol, into your fuel tank while you're waiting for your morning latte. Don't believe me?  Go to your pantry or gas station right now and read the labels.  (I have added an extensive list of corn derivatives below for your research pleasure...)

Going back to my original rant, please understand that I am not against a ban on fried foods; however, I take issue with a government that purports to care about the health of our children while simultaneously subsidizing farmers to produce absurd excesses of corn that must be put to good use, lest the taxpayers find fault. And Yankee ingenuity has not failed the government: creative thinkers continue to find new and nefarious ways of utilizing the stuff: you and your children consume corn and its byproducts in more obscure forms every day.

Is it really any wonder that our nation is becoming heavier and sicker every year? Is it a mystery that obesity in this country is epidemic? Are you surprised that we have become a country of diabetics? Can I shock you into thinking about the fact that the meals you call healthy and nutritious do not warrant the label "food?"

 I'm sorry, but you will have to excuse me if I get upset that they are targeting the healthy Lima bean because it suits their purpose, a purpose that is evil and killing us as surely as would drinking gasoline. They have created a corn-based society, and we are becoming sicker by the minute.  Shame on them, and shame on us for allowing this to continue. 

It's not corny; it's criminal! 

Let's all wake up and Just Lose It! 

For Your Dining Pleasure:

Acetic acid

Alcohol

Alpha tocopherol

Artificial flavorings

Artificial sweeteners

Ascorbates

Ascorbic acid

Aspartame (Artificial sweetener)

Acetic acid

Alcohol

Alpha tocopherol

Artificial flavorings

Artificial sweeteners

Ascorbates

Ascorbic acid

Aspartame (Artificial sweetener)

Astaxanthin

Baking powder

Barley malt* (generally OK, but can be contaminated)

Bleached flour*

Blended sugar (sugaridextrose)

Brown sugar* (generally OK if no caramel color)

Calcium citrate

Calcium fumarate

Calcium gluconate

Calcium lactate

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)

Calcium stearate

Calcium stearoyl lactylate

Caramel and caramel color

Carbonmethylcellulose sodium

Cellulose microcrystalline

Cellulose, methyl

Cellulose, powdered

Cetearyl glucoside

Choline chloride

Citric acid*

Citrus cloud emulsion (CCS)

Coco glycerides (cocoglycerides)

Confectioners sugar

Corn alcohol, corn gluten

Corn extract

Corn flour

Corn oil, corn oil margarine

Corn starch

Corn sweetener, corn sugar

Corn syrup, corn syrup solids

Corn, popcorn, cornmeal

Cornstarch, cornflour

Crosscarmellose sodium

Crystalline dextrose

Crystalline fructose

Cyclodextrin

DATUM (a dough conditioner)

Decyl glucoside

Decyl polyglucose

Dextrin

Dextrose (also found in IV solutions)

Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous)

d-Gluconic acid

Distilled white vinegar

Drying agent

Erythorbic acid

Erythritol

Ethanol

Ethocel 20

Ethylcellulose

Ethylene

Ethyl acetate

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl lactate

Ethyl maltol

Fibersol-2

Flavorings*

Food starch

Fructose*

Fruit juice concentrate*

Fumaric acid

Germ/germ meal

Gluconate

Gluconic acid

Glucono delta-lactone

Gluconolactone

Glucosamine

Glucose*

Glucose syrup* (also found in IV solutions)

Glutamate

Gluten

Gluten feed/meal

Glycerides

Glycerin*

Glycerol

Golden syrup

Grits

High fructose corn syrup

Hominy

Honey*

Hydrolyzed corn

Hydrolyzed corn protein

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP)

Inositol

Invert syrup or sugar

Iodized salt

Lactate

Lactic acid*

Lauryl glucoside

Lecithin

Linoleic acid

Lysine

Magnesium fumarate

Maize

Malic acid

Malonic acid

Malt syrup from corn

Malt, malt extract

Maltitol

Maltodextrin

Maltol

Maltose

Mannitol

Methyl gluceth

Methyl glucose

Methyl glucoside

Methylcellulose

Microcrystaline cellulose

Modified cellulose gum

Modified corn starch

Modified food starch

Molasses* (corn syrup may be present; know your product)

Mono and di glycerides

Monosodium glutamate

MSG

Natural flavorings*

Olestra/Olean

Polenta

Polydextrose

Polylactic acid (PLA)

Polysorbates* (e.g. Polysorbate 80)

Polyvinyl acetate

Potassium citrate

Potassium fumarate

Potassium gluconate

Powdered sugar

Pregelatinized starch

Propionic acid

Propylene glycol*

Propylene glycol monostearate*

Saccharin

Salt (iodized salt)

Semolina (unless from wheat)

Simethicone

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose

Sodium citrate

Sodium erythorbate

Sodium fumarate

Sodium lactate

Sodium starch glycolate

Sodium stearoyl fumarate

Sorbate

Sorbic acid

Sorbitan

Sorghum* (not all is bad; the syrup and/or grain CAN be mixed with corn)

Splenda (Artificial sweetener)

Starch (any kind that's not specified)

Stearic acid

Stearoyls

Sucralose (Artificial sweetener)

Sucrose

Sugar* (not identified as cane or beet)

Threonine

Tocopherol (vitamin E)

Treacle (aka golden syrup)

Triethyl citrate

Unmodified starch

Vanilla, natural flavoring

Vanilla, pure or extract

Vanillin

Vegetable anything that's not specific*

Vinegar, distilled white

Vinyl acetate

Vitamin C* and Vitamin E*

Vitamins*

Xanthan gum

Xylitol

Yeast*

FYI : That waxy substance that makes your fresh fruits and vegetables so shiny and appealing is, you got it, corn.