The Evils of Candy Corn… and more about HFCS
OK- so I’ve had a terrible stomach all week. It’s been debilitating. I’ve been rushing to the bathroom 4-5 X’s per day and I swear more is coming out then going in. ugh, too much information, I know (but not if you’re a runner, or if you’ve ever spent much time around me). I’ve been in limbo alternating between feeling completely bloated and totally depleted. Sitting here on my big blue ball, I just want to go and lie down. The worst is that today I’m really light-headed. At least I already did most of mileage this morning- (with only 1 emergency bathroom break en route)…
So what does this have to do with candy corn? It’s pretty much the only thing that I can pinpoint that I’ve eaten differently. (Well, I did have a glass of port and three little chocolates at Pix for Ian’s birthday on Tuesday…)
There is an EVIL bowel of candy corn that appeared out of no where this week right outside my office. Candy corn, plus those adorable little pumpkins, were my sweet-fix in college. The whole candy addiction thing was a new thing for me upon starting college cross country. I didn’t realize that people post-elementary school still had such strong connections with non-chocolate candy. Candy corn was the only thing I could get behind… I loved that honey-flavored sugar spike immediately after races. Their borderline obscurity plus the fact that I only see them for three weeks out of the year has continued to up their allure.
My parents didn’t make regular appearances at races in college (though they flew to Illinois last minute for Cross nationals my senior year), but someone else’s parents always brought me a bag of candy corn.
So- to get back to the subject- I’ve been researching whether candy corn could somehow contain gluten… and yes, I know about the cross-contamination issues (I just don’t know what exactly would be contaminating it? twizzlers? those fake-yogurt-covered pretzels? mystery to me)…
In my internet search I came across a blog post that I thought I would link to. The author discusses candy corn’s ingredients (basically different kinds of sugar & wax), as well as the harmful effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).
Check it out:
http://www.glutenfreeforgood.com/blog/?p=468
I think my gut needs a candy corn detox.
I found that I had a bad reaction, and terrible addiction to candy corn in college. Eat some, feel crummy, eat more to feel better, feel even worse. What a sugar roller coaster! Now I’m corn free, so no more candy corn.
P.S. It’s good to see you back posting
Thanks- sometimes life doesn’t leave room for much else.
I’m feeling like I can take a breathe now again. It’s nice.
Hi Dana — I found your blog via your link to mine (I’m the one with all the anti-HFCS posts). Were you diagnosed with celiac? You mentioned gluten-sensitivity, but after reading your “about” pages on both your blog and your bakery website, it sounds like more than just being sensitive. Sorry for being nosy, but this is what I do (not be nosy, but I’m a nutritionist).
There’s a reason people with celiac (or even gluten issues) don’t do well with sugar, especially HFCS. Yeah, there’s absolutely nothing in candy corn worth eating. But that stuff can become addictive for a reason.
Do you know about Amy Begley? Olympic runner with celiac?
Anyway, nice to “meet” you. We have some common interests. I’m into sports nutrition, skiing, hiking, etc. Plus, I’m from Colorado. Did you grow up in Carbondale?
Take care,
Melissa
P.S. I think it’s awesome that you’ve opened your own GF vegan bakery!
Hi Dana — I found your blog via your link to mine (I’m the one with all the anti-HFCS posts). Were you diagnosed with celiac? You mentioned gluten-sensitivity, but after reading your “about” pages on both your blog and your bakery website, it sounds like more than just being sensitive. Sorry for being nosy, but this is what I do (not be nosy, but I’m a nutritionist).
There’s a reason people with celiac (or even gluten issues) don’t do well with sugar, especially HFCS. Yeah, there’s absolutely nothing in candy corn worth eating. But that stuff can become addictive for a reason.
Do you know about Amy Begley? Olympic runner with celiac?
Anyway, nice to “meet” you. We have some common interests. I’m into sports nutrition, skiing, hiking, etc. Plus, I’m from Colorado. Did you grow up in Carbondale?
Take care,
Melissa
P.S. I think it’s awesome that you’ve opened your own GF vegan bakery!