Completely unrelated pictures from our last snow storm…I just like them.

I can’t believe I would take anything out of my diet with the word “corn” in it.  I do live Indiana.  But a few years ago, I read a longitudinal study of female nurses.  After a couple of decades, the only variant that separated the diabetics from the non-diabetics was a diet including soda.  Not diet soda, but real honest to goodness sugary Coke, Pepsi, etc.   Not genetics, not exercise, not weight.  Just…SODA (or POP, depending on your regional preference).  There is only one ingredient in soda that would have turned those ladies into diabetics.  You know it, and I know it: high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

And then the Washington Post published this. Mercury.  In HFCS.  DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY? MERCURY? AS IN THE MAD HATTER MERCURY?!  OK…now, that can’t be good.  I’m just waiting for an industry response that argues the relative toxicity of the mercury levels found in the study.  RIGHT.  Let’s be clear oh great makers of syrupy sweet goodness: there is NO safe level of mercury in anything.  If you’ve made my body into a Superfund site, we’re going to have words.

I have so much to say about our diet and changes I’ve made since quitting La Job.  I’ve had so much time to reflect on the importance of what we put in our mouths all day long, every day, until we die.  My very trusted friend Angie commented to me last fall as I was bemoaning my melanoma and the fact that nothing can be done to prevent a recurrence (other than sunscreen, and ain’t nobody buying into the life saving properties of LOTION…it’s LOTION and I have CANCER….are you feeling me?)…she asked, “Really?  Nothing?  And you accepted that answer?  Ms. I’ll climb every mountain to receive the best medical care on earth?  Do you think MAYBE there is SOMETHING you could do?”  Maybe it’s the fact that we sat next to each other through every single day of nursing school.  Maybe it’s because Angie is so much smarter than me that her brainy power makes me squint when she speaks.  But I will tell you this: when Angie speaks, I listen.  And she knows A HELLUVA LOT about food and nutrition.

Along with all the other changes I’ve made (one at a time so as not to go into a coma): adios high fructose corn syrup.  From our juice (easy fix), our bread (yep, it’s even in wheat…those labels surprised me the most), from our snacks (HARD fix), from our syrup (even harder fix).  We’ve tried natural sugar fruit pie filling.  Nope.  Real maple syrup.  Nope.  Next I’m trying some whipped cream and adding sprinkles.  Daddy already tried chocolate chips in the pancakes.  Nope.  But you know what I’m NOT going to try on top of my waffles?  Mercury.  Would you like a little insulin with your mercury?  Because although I always knew that stuff was bad for me, there is no way on earth it’s going into the mouths of my children. I’m open to suggestions!