There is a lot of talk these days about sugar in various forms. Whether it’s the raw stuff, high-fructose corn syrup, or agave nectar, people are debating what sugar is good for you and what sugar is bad for you. Guess what? It’s all sugar! And, it all has calories.
So what’s the difference between all the sugar products out there? Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart Magazine has a great breakdown in their July issue.
Raw Sugar and Natural Sweetners
Raw sugar, honey, molasses, and maple syrup are generally considered “natural” sweeteners. But, warning! You still have to use it in moderation. Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you. These have just as many empty calories as the next sweetener.
Agave Nectar
This sweetener, made from plants, is usually marketed as a healthy alternative for sweetening. Sold in vitamin shops and carrying a “certified organic” label, you might think this product is actually good for you. Wrong! After testing, ShopSmart Mag said to skip it. Agave nectar costs way more than sugar and it’s mostly fructose.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
Here is Public Enemy #1. HFCS is being blamed for the obesity epidemic in this country, mainly because,
It is a marker for junk foods. Cheaper than sucrose, it turns up in all kinds of processed foods, particularly soft drinks. And there is nearly as much of it in the food supply as sucrose – 56 pounds per year per person versus 62 pounds for table sugar.
But, your body can hardly tell the difference. Sugar is sugar. Watch this report from NBC’s Nightly News:
The Center for Consumer Freedom commented on this video by saying:
“High fructose corn syrup is one of the most misunderstood products in the food supply,” said Harvard’s David Ludwig last night on NBC Nightly News. That’s because sugar is sugar, whether it’s made from beets, cane, or corn. All are nearly identical in molecular composition, and exactly equal in sweetness and calorie content.
The average American currently consumes about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. How much should we have? Well, the American Heart Association recommendations 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 teaspoons a day for men. So, we consume way more than we should, no matter in what form.
The bottom line, according to ShopSmart, is to, “choose the sugar you like best, but use it in moderation and don’t fool yourself into thinking any of it (unless it comes in a shiny apple) is health food.”
Alert: another wacky product idea! Here’s one that guarantees to help you “maintain your dignity” while you wipe. It’s called the Comfort Wipe, and it’s basically a long plastic wand you insert your toilet paper in to:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfGXmxJ1vM
Toilet paper is “archaic?” Huh? The ad says TP hasn’t been improved upon since the 1880s. I’m pretty sure the people at Charmin would disagree. In fact, there have been several improvements and variations in TP over that first version. These include a coating of wax or aloe to reduce roughness, two-ply paper, a slight texture to provide some durability and softness, and more. So, I think we can agree that toilet paper is as advanced as we’ve ever seen.
The CW is aimed at two groups of people: First, those who have a loss of range of motion, and second, those who hate to touch toilet paper SO much that they need a big ‘ol plastic stick to do it for them. If you’re in the first group, fine. I can see how you would not want to call a friend or partner for help with wiping every single time you do your business. A drag, for sure. But, if you fall into the second category, I can only hope I’m not nearby when you snap and head for a bell tower with a shotgun. Is there anyone who can’t stand to touch toilet paper? If your OCD is this debilitating, you have a whole host of bigger problems than wiping your behind.
So, if you’re in a cast or recently had surgery on your shoulder, this product may make some sense. If you’re anyone else ordering this, get help immediately!
Not everyone can invent the Pet Rock. (A rock sold in a box. As a pet. Genius.) But that doesn’t stop folks from trying. Here are a few products you can classify under “useless.” Save your money and use a little elbow grease instead!
Remember the LifeLock ads where the owner broadcasts his own Social Security Number? Well, after the ads ran, owner Todd Davis’ identity was stolen thirteen times. Crooks opened up credit card accounts, ran up phone bills, and applied for bank loans using Davis’ SSN. Doesn’t do much for the company image, dudes.
Customers pay $10 to $15 a month for their service, which has a $1 million guarantee that your identity is secure with them. The FTC went after them earlier this year, claiming the company was making false advertising claims:
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz states the Commission’s feelings bluntly: “While LifeLock promised consumers complete protection against all types of identity theft, in truth, the protection it actually provided left enough holes that you could drive a truck through it.”
In the settlement, LifeLock agreed to pay $11 million to the FTC, which will be refunded to consumers. Also, they have been instructed to remove any “100% effective” claims from their advertising.
Bottom line: no one but YOU can protect your SSN. Only give it to those that need it, and then keep it in the lockbox.
Mother necessity, where would we be without your inventions? Well, we’d be looking at a product called NewSeat. This is a disposable seat cover that fits over chairs at movie theaters, weddings, convention halls, meeting rooms…basically anywhere that might have a seat that doesn’t meet your OCD standards.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7m8IMOxiTs
Me, if I see a chair with schmutz on it, I just choose another seat. But, that’s me.
Have you seen a Blu-ray player that retails for $200, but comes with a $50 rebate? Sounds good, right? Well, you may never see that $50. Companies love mail-in rebates because consumers jump on them and yet most people never mail them in. Or, the consumer doesn’t fill out the rebate form “correctly,” which gives companies the right to refuse the rebate. Either way, this helps to add up to the $500 million in unclaimed rebates each year.
Rebate redemption rates never hit 100 percent. They rates generally range from 5 percent to 80 percent, depending on the value of the rebate. While vendors have accelerated nearly every other aspect of the purchasing process in recent years — from overnight shipping to 24/7 instant chat support — rebates are still stuck in the stone age to discourage redemption.
Many companies run deceptive or intentionally difficult rebate campaigns. They don’t want you to be able to claim the money because that’s money out of their pocket. So you lose out because you didn’t read the fine print that said your rebate needed to be mailed from a post office within 30 hours of purchase. In recent years, the FTC has taken issue with many big companies, such as Buy.com and Office Depot, for deceptive advertising and delayed delivery on rebate payment.
I was excited to see that New Jersey is considering a measure to eliminate the mail-in rebate altogether. The legislation would, “requires retailers to charge consumers an advertised after-rebate price, rather than making them send in coupons or log on to manufacturer’s websites to claim their savings.” It would then be the retailer’s responsibility to get the rebate from the manufacturer. Rhode Island and Connecticut already have this law in place.
So, manufacturers, stop making consumers jump through hoops for a couple of lousy bucks. Give us the real price from the get-go, and we won’t hate you later when our rebate form is declared invalid. Consumers, if you decide to purchase a rebate product, read the fine print before you buy it. And, make copies of everything before you mail the rebate away for fulfillment.
OK, I admit that we have a Slap Chop in my house. You’ve seen this product advertised, as well as many others, on late-night TV. Sham Wow, Snuggie, Flobee, Shoedini, Topsy Turvy…the list goes on and on. Do they work? Are they worth the money? Well, Boston.com tested a few of these products for you.
(In case you’re wondering, I think the Slap Chop is a fine product. It’s great for nuts, and other things that are a bitch to chop. Not an easy product to clean, though. Still, it works.)
Infomercials are big business. Even though we’re in a recession, infomercial sales are still booming to the tune of $150 million per year. Even the pitchmen have become famous in recent years. The purpose of the infomercial is to make the product look fun, easy to use, and indispensable. And let’s not forget a sense of urgency. “Order now and we’ll throw in….” But, what you see isn’t always what you get.
Don’t let yourself get sucked in at 3AM! It’s probably just your insomnia talking, but you don’t really need a Magic Bullet. It’s important to read the reviews and do some research before you buy these products. There are several web sites that have already done the heavy lifting for you, such as Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and Honest Infomercial Reviews.
Huffington Post has a great slideshow of the most frivolous lawsuits of all time. The stupidity is mind-numbing, and makes you wonder about humanity in general. The woman who sued McDonald’s for hot coffee is there, but there are plenty more where that came from. Like the woman who sued a haunted house because it was scary. Ummm….duh. Didn’t anyone on this list have a person who could talk some sense in him or her?
At the top of the “Things I Better Not Ever Receive as a Gift” list is the Better Marriage Blanket. While the name may imply a blanket that gives you more hours in the day or more patience for your spouse, the real purpose is to absorb farts. I know you’re thinking this is an SNL commercial parody, but it’s a real product to eliminate bedtime odors.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxVhqkF9KgU
If your intestinal distress is so awful that you need to buy this blanket, then you need to sleep alone.
I know it’s not very PC to say this right now, but I’m one of those parents that occasionally let my kids eat fast food. We eat the majority of our meals at home where I can watch fat, salt, and sugar intake. But, as a fun outing, we take the two little ones to eat at McDonalds and then play on the indoor playground.
And, sometimes my kids get a toy with the meal that they are mildly interested in. For a minute.
Well, Santa Clara, California wants to take those toys away. They have passed an ordinance where meals sold to children have to meet certain nutritional guidelines in order to include a toy.
Any meal that has more than more than 485 calories, more than 600 milligrams of sodium, more than 35 percent of total calories from fat or more than 10 percent of calories from added sugar, or any individual food item more than 200 calories cannot include a toy under the ordinance. Violations would be punishable by fines of as much as $1,000 for each meal sold with a toy.
Now, I know there is a childhood obesity epidemic in this country. No one can deny that U.S. kids need to eat better. I have watched Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution in West Virginia with interest, and I’m encouraged by the idea of National Salt Reduction Initiative. It seems like a ball is rolling that will improve the quality and quantity of our kids’ food. But…the toys? Really? Talk about taking your eye off the big picture.
Should we take away the crayons and color books at the sit-down chains? Their food isn’t much healthier for kids:
For example, popular choices on the Kid’s Menu at Chili’s Grill & Bar might get your child anywhere from 210 to 890 calories just for the entree and a side dish, even before you add on a drink, dressing (like a side of ranch dressing for the Chicken Crispers – 240 calories), and dessert.
Do you really think that our kids are fat because of the Avatar figurines included in a Happy Meal? The toys aren’t the lure; it’s the FOOD. Deep-fried and salty, the food is what most kids really want. And, that’s not the end of the world every now and again.
Even when served with a toy.
This post originally appeared on RationalMoms on Monday, May 3, 2010.
Daily Dose of Common Sense cuts through the crap, hype, and pseudoscience to tell it like it is. Part science, part news, and part, er, common sense, this site may be harsh sometimes but it's just tough love.
Remember the LifeLock ads where the owner broadcasts his own Social Security Number? Well, after the ads ran, owner Todd Davis’ identity was stolen thirteen times. Crooks opened up credit card accounts, ran up phone bills, and applied for bank loans using Davis’ SSN. Doesn’t do much for the company image, dudes.
Have you seen a Blu-ray player that retails for $200, but comes with a $50 rebate? Sounds good, right? Well, you may never see that $50. Companies love mail-in rebates because consumers jump on them and yet most people never mail them in. Or, the consumer doesn’t fill out the rebate form “correctly,” which gives companies the right to refuse the rebate. Either way, this helps to add up to the $500 million in 
I know it’s not very PC to say this right now, but I’m one of those parents that occasionally let my kids eat fast food. We eat the majority of our meals at home where I can watch fat, salt, and sugar intake. But, as a fun outing, we take the two little ones to eat at McDonalds and then play on the indoor playground.
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