Get Healthy Harlem

Did you know that Americans ate next to no high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) before 1970? Today, the average American eats 60 pounds of HFCS a year. That is a big change in only four decades for a product where we are still unsure of the long-term health effects.

Maudene Nelson, RD, CDE is a nutrition educator at the Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition and a diabetes educator at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center.  She sat down with GetHealthyHarlem.org to explain why locally grown food is healthier for you and the economy!

Some important facts about sugar:

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the health effects of having large amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in our food. Even the first lady, Michelle Obama, has said she will not give her children products made with high fructose corn syrup.

Looking for fresh fruits and vegetables this summer?  Check out one of the many Farmers' Markets taking place in Northern Manhattan:

Dr. Isobel Contento is a Professor in Nutrition Education and Coordinator of the Nutrition Program in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies Nutrition at Teachers College Columbia University. In this article, she explains some tips she has for Harlem residents on how to eat healthier-especially if you're on a budget or don't have many healthy food options where you live.

Maudene Nelson, RD, CDE has been a nutrition educator at the Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition for the past thirty years. She is also a diabetes educator at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center. She talks about how meat is processed in the United States and what it means to eat organic food.

Here are some important facts you should know about corn and sugar: