High Fructose Corn Syrup Pops Up in the Strangest Places

I'm eating the same as always but gaining weight. Why?

Overeat by as few as 50 calories a day and you'll put on pounds. "Most premenopausal women can afford 100 to 200 empty calories each day," says Elisa Zied, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "After menopause, women need more nutrients, but 100 to 200 fewer calories. A painless fix: Check labels for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), often found in high-calorie, low-nutrient processed foods. Preliminary evidence suggests that the ubiquitous sweetener may increase appetite and body-fat accumulation by altering hormones. To keep weight steady, limit foods that list HFCS in the top six ingredients. Watch for it everywhere, not just in sugary-tasting foods: It's found in frozen pizza, whole wheat bread, hamburger buns, as well as in many condiments such as ketchup and salad dressing.