Rachel's CafeAll things coffee…

I seem to be getting bigger and bigger lately. I eat normally. No candy. But I use Liquid Coffee Mate Creamer.

The label says no trans fat. No trigs. It says on the nutrition facts label no polys or monos. But in the ingredients fine print partially hydrogenated soy bean oil. Is this where the 1.5% total fat is coming from and should this be a concern?

The bigger problem with Coffee Mate (and just about everything else on the shelves nowadays) is the use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

HFCS is a common sweetner used in just about everything from softdrinks, to bread, even things like peanut butter because it’s cheaper than sugar. Very very very cheap.

There has been some studies that show that HFCS interferes with the body’s ability to detect when it is full, causing us to eat more than we should – often consuming more HFCS as a consequence. Many believe there is at least an indirect link between HFCS and the rise of type 2 diabetes in adults.

If possible, try to avoid food and drinks with HFCS. Replace the coffee mate with some 2% or 1% milk, for instance. If you want it sweeter, use real sugar, not one of those phoney chemical replacements. A bit of milk fat and a few spoons of sugar will do a lot less damage to your figure and health than an equal amount of HFCS…

Again, read the labels. You’ll be shocked at how many products use HFCS – even those that you wouldn’t think would need any sweetners in the first place will often contain some. Buying prepared organic food is a good way to avoid HFCS, even if they use cane sugar or cane syrup.

Finally, a bit of exercise wouldn’t hurt. Even a brisk 20 minute walk after lunch will help with your digestion, metabolism, energy level, and waistline.

Cherry cheesecake with French Vanilla Coffee-Mate creamer

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