High Fructose Corn
Syrup (HFCS)
Over the last couple
decades, HFCS has slowly replaced sugar in our diets. Corn subsidies and
tariffs on sugar are just a couple of the reasons why high fructose corn syrup
is cheaper to produce. HFCS is widely used in processed foods as a sweetener.
Unfortunately, high consumption of fructose causes an increase in
triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation markers .
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners
have caused more confusion than just about any other food. Are they OK to eat?
Do they cause cancer? Is Stevia natural or artificial? For every study showing
a link to cancer, there is another one showing a lack of clear evidence. Your
best bet is to avoid such an unproven food product. It took decades to show a
clear link to cancer for some sweeteners. Do you really want to take a chance
on another new and unproven one?
Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenating oils is
the process of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats.It contains trans fat.
Hydrogenated oils are still being used in vast quantities to give better
consistency to foods, and to improve shelf-lives like biscuits,cakes,fried
foods and other many other snacks. Trans fats have been linked to an increased
risk of Heart disease,Diabetes,Cancer to name a few. Read the food label
ingredients. Just because it says 0 grams of fat, it doesn’t mean there are no
hydrogenated oils. The FDA allows anything under .5 grams to be reported as a
zero. Read carefully.
Nitrates/Nitrites
Nitrites are used
heavily as a food additive to help preserve meats. They also change the color
and taste of the food. Some will argue that nitrites are naturally occurring in
food. While this may be true in some cases, the whole foods that contain the
nitrites naturally also have antioxidants that prevent the formation of
nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are the real killers. Nitrate ingestion has been
linked to impaired thyroid function, vitamin A and E metabolism interference,
and reduced brain activity .
Monosodium Glutamate
(MSG)
MSG is used as a flavor
enhancer in foods esp in Chinese. The bad news is that MSG is not clearly
labeled on food packaging. MSG is hidden in many foods. Animals treated with
MSG developed brain lesions, caused stunted skeletal development and weight
gain, and disrupted the neural centers responsible for hormone function .
Artificial Colors and
Flavors
Artificial colors and
flavors are used by food manufacturers to add visual appeal, taste, and smell
to foods. By combining certain chemicals together, “chemists” can create a near
endless variety of flavors. Anything on a label that says artificial should be
avoided, and if you see a color such as blue, red, or yellow, avoid those too.
Artificial colors and flavors promote hyperactivity in children and may be a
leading cause of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder .
Benzoate Preservatives
(BHA/BHT)
BHA is used in food to
help prevent oils from going rancid. BHT is “reasonably anticipated to be a
carcinogen” by many organizations and states (California), and is also used to
produce fuel, petroleum products, and embalming fluid. BHA has been shown to
grow cancer cells, and contributes to ADHD symptoms .
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