30-Day High Fructose Corn Syrup Detox
We’re starting to wake up to the impact of high fructose corn syrup on our nation’s health: Studies have shown that consumption of high fructose corn syrup leads to obesity, a condition that now affects more than 30% of American adults and is associated with heart disease, diabetes, strokes and other serious health problems. A recent UC Davis study featured on “60 Minutes” showed that just two weeks of eating high fructose corn syrup increased the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The problem is, most people don’t stop at two weeks. In fact, research shoes that sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup and sugar are addicting: Just like cocaine, they release endorphins, dopamine and seratonin as they hit your system, triggering the pleasure center of your brain. And just like illicit drugs, you need more and more of the stuff to feel good. People, it’s time for a detox!
Annually, Americans each consume 43 pounds of high fructose corn syrup, linked to obesity and heart disease. Take the 30-Day High Fructose Corn Syrup Detox and enter to win a case of Marquis O3, zero calorie, all-natural & organic HFCS-free carbonated drink! Even though Americans consumed less HFCS in 2011 than at any point since 1997, on average we’re still eating more than 43 pounds of the stuff each year. That’s because high fructose corn syrup can be found in soda, juices, baked items, condiments, salad dressing, crackers, bars, cereal, processed meats, and sauces—on pretty much every shelf in the supermarket.
Why is it there? After fat got a bad rap in the 1980s, manufacturers took out the oils and brought in high fructose corn syrup—a cheaper form of sugar—to add flavor. It worked: Consumption of HFCS has increased more than 1,000 percent since 1970.
So how can we get it out of our lives? Join the Mommy Greenest 30-Day High Fructose Corn Syrup Detox! I remember when I first did this about 10 years ago I was so surprised by how many foods were chock full of the stuff. After I detoxed HFCS out of my life, I felt healthier—like the foods I was eating were really nourishing me, instead of just tickling my taste buds. I lost weight, too. I can’t wait to see what the Mommy Greenest High Fructose Corn Syrup Detox can do for you! Here’s how it works:
FIRST enter the giveaway below or leave me a comment below and pledge not to consume any high fructose corn syrup for 30 days—or try your best not to!
I love Marquis O3, which sponsored this post—and our giveaway. I discovered this carbonated drink at the Natural Products Expo West and became totally obsessed. Marquis O3 gives me just the right amount of pick-me-up, with O sugar and O calories—and they’re USDA Certified Organic. O3, get it? The buzz on Marquis O3 is that it can help with weight loss, since it’s sweetened with organic stevia, which is an all-natural, calorie-free sweetener that doesn’t raise your blood glucose levels. (It’s even great for diabetics.) I love that it’s made with energy-boosting green tea and yerba mate, as well as immunity-powerhouse vitamin B and antioxidant-rich vitamin C, and comes in an always-recyclable can. Plus, in three flavors of delicious—Super Berry, Mango Ginger and Citrus—it’s perfect over ice or mixed with (dare I say) a shot of vodka. Why waste your time with Red Bull? Marquis O3 is the real organic deal.
But back to the detox…THEN read your labels—if they contain HFCS, put the product back on the supermarket shelf; as much as possible, avoid processed foods, juices and sodas when you’re eating out. AND for the next 30 days, come back and visit this page to leave me a comment with your updates: What part of the detox was easy? What was hard? I want to know about it—and I promise to respond!
One caveat to this video: Of course there is caffeine in the mix from the green tea—about 150 mg per serving. The perfect pick me up!
This post was sponsored by Marquis O3 and meets the standards I’ve established to endorse a brand as “Mommy Greenest Approved.” Click here for more about Editorial Standards.
HFCS photo: SmartyPants Vitamins

65 Comments
Bell
Yes i highly recommend everyone to stop HFCS it is horrible and cause so much trouble to digestive system . Stay strong and just do it . I did for 2 months then started up again . I wish i hadent but am starting again .
Gregory Procknal
I’ll try. Sish tyey would j7st stop using this poison. Is it in zero energy drinks ? Like in a different name
Jeanette Koester
I pledge to not eat high fructose corn syrup for (more than) 30 days! I’m only on day 3… wow I feel like I’m detoxing, nauseous and horrible sick like feeling, but I know my body will be happier after this stage! I can’t believe how awful that stuff is for our bodies. Glad I finally figured out what was causing all my symptoms!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yes, it’s crazy right? Thank you for sharing!
John Page
I did I learn it bad for me and you
Reina Nunez
I Also Pledge to Avoid HFCS I forgot to put in comment earlier
Reina Nunez
I was wondering is there any suggestions towards snacks to eat without fructose corn syrup I’m cutting out furctose corn syrup completely but Im not sure what meats I can choose without FCS anything that you know what’s good to buy without FCS
Yolanda
I too am pre diabetic, I am appalled to find HFCS in almost everything on the store shelves. I stopped drinking pop which is something I’ve done for almost 50yrs now my goal is to eliminate hfcs from my diet completely. I’m finding it hard to find substitutions for things like non dairy creamer for my coffee, I’m lactose intolerant, any suggestions?
Nancy Jinks
Hi Rachel,
I started reading labels approximately a year or so ago after I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes 2. I had to lower my A1c so I began reading labels and came to the conclusion that the HFCS is a type of sugar and had to be one of the problems causing the epidemic of diabetes . I said, “Enough is enough and I quit! I will NOT eat this junk any more! (if I can avoid it)”. It is in almost every package of food in every store (except Trader Joes and maybe Earthfare) and it is in every product imagineable! I was livid! Anyway, this year when I had my A1C checked again, after I had stopped eating food that listed HFCS on the label, to my surprise, my number was four tenths of a point lower, just from removing the HFCS from my diet and shopping at Trader Joes. I was amazed! My husband and I will continue to avoid HFCS. My doctor was so shocked that he asked me how I did it and I am no longer pre-diabetic. Now, I want to learn more l about how it is hidden in food so I can completely avoid it.
Richard Merriam
My doctor ordered me to stop ingesting HFCS a week ago. What an improvement!!
Sharon
I pledge 30 days no HFCs! I am 2 days in.. My knees hurt and I miss my pop! 🙁
Rachel Sarnoff
Good for you, Sharon! Keep it going 🙂 I find that bubbly water can be just as addictive–but still good for you! I’m not sure where the knees hurting comes in, however! Good luck!
Cora Patek
I don’t understand how site after site talks about how HFCS is more addictive than coccaine but says go try a detox on your own and we wish you all the best. Where is the “Betty Ford Clinic” for HFCS and sugar addiction? Going to the grocery store and reading labels is frustrating. The stuff is EVERYWHERE. Even in our healthy grocer chain Sprouts. You would never send an alcoholic to a liquor store and tell them to read the labels to avoid alcohol, right? I tried so called diet meal delivery plans and they have it too. Do you know of a meal or grocery delivery plan for sugar addiction? What can we do if we tried everything to simply fall off the wagon because we ate something we had no idea had HFCS in it until afterwards when you feel the effects?
Rachel Sarnoff
Hi again Cora – yes I agree, it is so difficult to eliminate! I think the closer we eat to the source — i.e. less processed foods — but better our chances are to stay away from HFCS. Good luck!
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melissa mc
I’ve been doing this as well for years but it’s always good to be reminder every once in a while — ty! 🙂
Lindsay
I’ve been trying to cut down on sugar in general and it’s harder than I thought! I don’t think I eat that much sugar until I start to pay attention. Thanks for sharing this info, especially as we head into Halloween season!
Lori Popkewitz Alper
This is an ongoing pledge for me. I always do my best to avoid HFCS.
Anna @Green Talk
I try to avoid HFC at all costs. Great challenge.
Rachel Sarnoff
Thank you!!
Dalores
I pledge not to consume high fructose corn syrup for at least 30 days.
Rachel Sarnoff
Awesome!! Thank you for pledging!
Ron Kozak
I pledge to try to avoid HFCS for the rest of my life. I guess that means avoid all canned, bottled, or boxed food, as most contain HFCS, but merely list it as sugar under the nutrition label. In the last two years I have had two sodas, and managed to avoid prossed meats. A year ago I quit eating bread for six months, and anything made with flour. I lost 30 lbs. I think I’m going to do this again as well, as most bread, and products made with flour also contain HFCS.
Rachel Sarnoff
Thank you for sharing this Ron! Amazing story and congratulations on your commitment to health!!
Ashley Delaney
I love it! There is simply no need to consume this, yet it appears in everything from soups to pasta sauce! I can’t wait to take the challenge.
rose
I already do my best to avoid it most of the time, but I pledge to be extra diligent for this challenge!
Rachel Sarnoff
Awesome! Thanks for joining the team!
Tanya
I pledge not to consume HFCS for 30+ days!!!
Taylor Brown
This is a great idea! I’m excited 🙂
Arline
Pledging to avoid HFCS for 30 days plus!
Rachel Sarnoff
Gotta love the PLUS 🙂 Thanks Arline!
Arline
Absolutely, HFCS are banned for 30 days and forever in my house.
Lauren Simms
Pledging to avoid HFCS for at least 30 days and to make wiser choices for myself and my family
Rachel Sarnoff
Good for you! Thanks for sharing!
Leslie
I love it when new products come out that are sweetened with Stevia, it’s hard to find them unfortunately. It seems like every appealing product has an insane amount of high fructose corn syrup. I’m glad more & more companies are coming out with alternatives!
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks Leslie! I am so glad, too–and glad that we’re all getting more aware of checking our labels. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Jessica
I pledge to try my very best to take the 30-day HFCS detox challenge!
#highfructosedetox!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yay good for you Jessica!!
Anita
I’m excited to do this detox. We check labels frequently, but it seems like ingredients are changing all the time. Good reminder to stay off sugar in general, too!
Rachel Sarnoff
Awesome, thanks Anita!
Katherine Williams
I am taking the 30-day high fructose detox challenge! I already try to avoid it (I don’t drink soda or most other sweetened drinks), but I will take time to read those ingredient labels.
Rachel Sarnoff
Good for you Katherine! Thanks for standing with our community to get HFCS out of our lives!
Juleigh Snell
I pledge to not consume high fructose corn syrup for (more than) 30 days!
Rachel Sarnoff
Good for you Juleigh! Tell a friend, too 🙂
Dorothea
Oh yeah, I’m taking the high-fructose corn syrup detox for the next 30 days (and longer)!
Rachel Sarnoff
Awesome! Thank you Dorothea!
Sarah
Marquis O3 sounds delicious! Mango ginger especially 🙂
Rachel Sarnoff
Love it, not too sweet–just right!
Dorothea
I always read the labels when I’m grocery shopping, and I always put anything containing high fructose corn syrup right back on the shelf. I pledge to continue to avoid any products containing high fructose corn syrup!
Rachel Sarnoff
Good for you! Yay!
sara
I’m takin the pledge! Thanks for keeping us aware 🙂
Rachel Sarnoff
Woot! Rock on Sara! 🙂 🙂
Laura
I am very cautious and try to keep HFCS out of my house! Sadly most people don’t understand how bad it is.
Rachel Sarnoff
Yes, let’s take the pledge and tell a friend, too. Together we CAN change the world–or at least what sells in the supermarket!
Sarah Bojorquez
I AM SO EXCITED TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yay!! Thanks Sarah! Keep it rolling! 🙂
Jamie English
I pledge to avoid high fructose corn syrup for 30 days. I try to avoid it now, but I’ve gotten a little less aware lately….will become more focused for 30 days!
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks Jamie! Time for a reboot, right? 🙂
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Andrea
I pledge to not consume high fructose corn syrup for (more than) 30 days!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yay! Go team! Thanks Andrea 🙂