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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, August 2-4, 2006 7y?e Park Record B-8 e WE'RE HELPING YOU ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS! N O W FEATURING BULL 1/2 BBQ ISLANDS AND OUTDOOR KITCHENS. DISPLAY MODELS ON SALE N O W ! ALL SPAS O N SALE! 6 SEATER THERAPY SPA ^yvY^--. DUAL MOTORS - 35 JETS • REG.$6495 SpaDepot M-F - 10-6 SAT 35 * 649-OO91 - 9-5 REPLACEMENT 6420 N. Business Park Just NtJrth of Summit Honda SPA COVERS FROM $299 Cdebratt tkt beauty of tier *y$% ^.;>A ""-. -A * " ^ " - ^ ^ H New light shed on fructose By JACK COX MediaNeius Group Wire Service If it were cast in a Hollywood movie- today, high-fructose corn syrup might well be starringas a suspect set free for lack of evidence, Its public image as a prime culprit in the rise of obesity is getting a break, thanks to research indicating that it may be no more culpable than other caloric sweeteners - and that people's waistlines are expanding for many reasons in addition to what they eat and drink. "It is not any more 'awful1 than sugar," says USDA nutritionist Forrest Nielsen, who has studied the gooey compound's effects on trace minerals in the body. "But both sugar and high-fructose corn syrup," he adds, "really are awful in the amounts they are consumed today in soda and sports drinks and make-believe fruit juices. No food is bad food per se. But they become villains11when consumed in great quantities. Americans stir, slurp and swallow an average of 45 pounds of sugar and 42 pounds of HFCS each per year, according to the latest figures available. That works out to a total of 26 teaspoons or 390 calorics per day, much of it hidden in carbonated soft drinks, which typically contain the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar per 12-ounce can. . In fact, according to a report issued in June by a task force of food and health experts convened by the Colorado-based Keystone Center, soft drinks now represent "the largest single source of calories in the American diet." High-fructose corn syrup is found in numerous products besides beverages, from energy bars and baked goods to yogurt and spaghetti sauce. But its use in soda, most brands of which have been sweetened solely by HFCS since the mid1980s, has been the chief target of its critics. Alarmed by the direct correlation between the rapid increase in obesity rates and the increase in pop consumption, many have singled out HFCS as a leading cause of the epidemic. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, for example, recently argued that sugary drinks should be banned in schools and taxed at a rate of a nickel a can. Leading scientists say, however, that while the syrup is not off the hook, there's no convincing evidence that it is uniquely to blame for the najtisyvs collective weight gain. 1 = , "RigQtViow "Right'.now we're we're concerned concerned about all caloric sweeteners," says University of North Carolina nutrition professor Barry M. Popkin. "We must reduce (the consumption of) soft drinks per se, no matter what the source of the sweetener." Popkin recently organized a panel of nutrition experts who found that Americans are drinking far more soft drink's, more often and in larger portions than they did 25 years ago _ and called for consumers to reduce by at least half the calories they get from beverages. "The issue isn't sugar, it's calories," agrees Michael Jacbbson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washingtonbased consumer advocacy group that has posted the Beverage Guidance Panel's recommendations on its Web site at cspinet.org. The problem with sweetened soda and sports drinks, Popkin explains, is that they don't satisfy one's appetite like solid food. Hence people don't offset the extra calories they take in through such beverages by eating less later on. "We are not in a position yet to say if there is an additional role that HFCS plays in weight gain compared to any other caloric sweetener in a beverage," Popkin says. "The science is not there yet, whereas it is a lot clearer that the science is there for a lack of change in food intake when one consumes any caloric beverage." One of the latest reports to shed light on the HFCS debate is a University of Washington study in which 19 men and 18 women in their 20s were given midmorning drinks of cola sweetened with HFCS, cola with sugar, diet cola and 1 percent milk. The researchers found "no significant differences in satiety profiles" among the beverages, meaning the subjects' feelings of hunger, fullness, thirst or desire to eat lunch were about the same for all. Another recent study, involving 30 lean women who drank beverages sweetened with either HFCS or plain sugar, found no differences in the way the two forms of energy were metabolized. (The authors, from Rhode Island University and Rippe Lifestyle Institute in Florida, called for further research to determine if the findings would hold true for male participants and obese individuals.) Besides the lack of solid evidence against it - plus the fact that obesity levels are also rising in countries where HFCS is not widelylyused, used, such such as asMexico, Mexico, Europe Europe and Australia _ its defenders can cite any number of other factors that may he at the root of the obesity epidemic. Among the most intriguing: insufficient sleep and the decline in smoking, two of 10 alternate explanations laid out in a recent paper by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. All this comes as sweet comfort to the Corn Refiners Association, a trade group that has been trying to fend off the attacks on HFCS through a Web site called HFCSfacts.com. As Audrae Erickson, the association's president, puts it, "There really isn't any difference between HFCS and sugar, scientifically speaking." In fact, the "high" in high-fructose is a misnomer, Erickson notes. In the formulation normally used in beverages, the syrup is composed of 55 percent fructose and 42 percent glucose - not much different from plain sugar, or sucrose, which consists of a 50-50 mix of fructose and glucose. Still, the prevalence of HFCS in the food supply - it is often preferred over sugar because it enhances flavors, helps breads brown and makes sauces more pourable - should give pause to those who count their calories. "If you're one of the few Americans whose energy intake and expenditure are in balance, it doesn't matter where your calories come from. But if not, taking in these extra sugars may have an effect in terms of storing fat," says Denver dietitian Bonnie Jortberg, an education specialist with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. "As a consumer, you need to read the labels and be aware of the things you're buying. The bottom line is, it's probably a good idea to stay away from sugared beverages. Go for diet pop, iced tea, seltzer or sugar-free lemonade. You don't have to drink just boring old water." Another Denver dietitian, Suzanne Farrell, founder of Cherry Creek Nutrition, says she tells her clients, "Look at the top three ingredients. You don't want HFCS in the top three, and there are some whole-grain breads and even some cereals where it is. If it's farther down the list, it's there for the flavor. But if it's in the top three, you might want to look 4,or something with withfewer fewergrams gramsofofsligar^'<**?-•« sUgai^'''^^ Kf and • Basketball tourney to ofier divbrsity the arvTftas,J flayors and Enjoy $25.00 Off SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The National Gay Basketball Association is coming to play a tournament in one of the nation's most conservative stales this fall. Participants say they're not concerned that Utah's conservative religious and political climate will impact the games. Most Utah residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which considers homosexuality a sin. Doug Fadel. captain of Queer Utah Aquatic Club, and co-chairman of Team Salt Lake, said such sporting events help to dispel myths about Utah. About 100 members of Team Salt Lake competed in the Gay Games VII in Chicago. The international tournament, modeled after the Olympics, is held every four years. "People were really surprised there was such a big team from Salt Lake City," he said. *Tm sure that will be the impression of the basketball teams when they come." Local organizer Jeff Sanchez agreed. Anti-gay measures such as Utah's constitutional ban on samesex marriage, he said, are "not an issue for us. We're just here to play." Some 16 teams from across the country will compete in the NGBA tournament Oct. 28-29 at the University of Utah. Participant Mark Chambers said the league chose Utah as part of efforts to expand tournament locations. "If we can have a positive experience and get people excited "about basketball, that's the key," Chambers said. Local organizer Jeff Sanchez, part of a bronze-medal-winning basketball team, said such sporting events provide a sense of camaraderie and openness that regular events can lack for gays and lesbians. "I think gay athletes, in general, feel excluded from sports," he said. "There's always some part of you that holds back. It^s fun to be able to compete in sports you're good at without having to worry about your orientation." The NGBA formed about 21/2 years ago and has since helped organize leagues in Salt Lake and some other cities. It also hosts about six national tournaments each year. C2006 Ponciw Car* North Amfnca. inc. Pwschft reewmwdt M » bed usage and obwrvoncfl ol si traffic lows Jt a) ttnes. With the purchase of two entrees EXPIRES 8/31/06 Serving dinner nightly at 6:30pm Enjoy your evening on our patio Call for reservations 435-940-2200 Previously driven. But can you really blame us? These are the ones we keep for ourselves. Low mileage. Meticulously maintained. And on rare occasion, sold to the public at an exceptional price. Contact us to learn more about this compelling opportunity to own the Porsche of your dreams. i Bistro Toujours located in the Chateaux at Silver Lake 7815 Royal Street East Park City, Utah 84060 Low mileage dealer-vehicle sale. 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