Is high fructose corn syrup evil?

According to a report at seattlepi.com, some people believe that high fructose corn syrup is so potentially bad for our health that entire grocery store chains are banning it. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/341888_fructose01web.html

HFCS has a bad rap,because of early reports that showed an increase in obesity with an increased consumption of HFCS. It's used as a cheap and tasty sweetener in a wide variety of foods, and especially in beverages. But is it the cause of obesity or chronic disease?

Probably not. I think this is just another case of the media and consumers grabbing onto a simple idea - ban all HFCS - when the true remedy is much more complex. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University and a top authority on the intersection of nutrition, science, politics and business, suggests that if we ban HFCS, we should just ban all sources of sugar because the body treats them all in a similar way.

She's right. Instead of looking for cookies, sweetened beverages, or breakfast cereal with HFCS, why not look for fresh fruit, drink plain tap water, and eat plain high-fiber cereal? The type of sweetener really isn't as important as the total calories and total sweetening, from whatever source, in the food.

A beef about tea

I have a beef about tea, specifically the bottled tea that we find in convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, etc.

It's all full of sugar. Why?

I like plain tea. No fruit. No sugar. No sugar substitute. No lemon. Just tea.

Why is this so difficult to find? Am I the only person out there who wants just plain tea?

All types of tea contain healthful antioxidants. Most of us use too much sugar, and sweetened beverages have been associated with increased body weight. Plus drinking sweetened bevereages, even those with sugar substitute, can increase our cravings for even more sugar. Moderate amounts of sugar are fine, but I prefer mine in something I can sink my teeth into, like chocolate or a cookie.

My solution: I always bring along a bottle of water. Once I find a location that sells plain, unsweetened tea, I stop there frequently and stock up. Thank you, the hot dog guy in Manchester, VT! You're the only one in town who carries plain tea.