Food Additives

Do you know what you're eating? Or what you're feeding your kids? It's more than a cracker, or some cereal, or your dinner. Processed food is full of all sorts of additives, many of which are thought to pose serious health risks. Some additives have been linked to cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, developmental problems, neurological problems, etc.

Artificial colors and flavors have no place in a healthy diet. Neither do artificial sweeteners, or artificial anything for that matter. We are live whole human beings, and we need live whole nutrients.


Take a look:

This article examines 12 food additives worth avoiding: nitrates/nitrites, BHA/ BHT, propyl gallate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), trans fats, aspartame, Acesulfame-K, food colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; and Yellow 6, olestra, potassium bromate, white sugar, and sodium chloride.

When is the last time you read your labels?

This is a great site with an alphabetical listing of additives, and a glossary following.

The easiest thing to do to protect your health is to avoid buying foods that are processed or that contain additives. If you must, however, educate yourself and understand what it is you are buying.

Check out the Sustainable Table for some more info about regulation, safety, and what to avoid.

This list of unacceptable ingredients from Whole Foods Market gives you just a glimpse of all the additives that are not worthy of being consumed.

And if it's not good to put in your body, then you won't want to put it on your body. Most body care products (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, lotion, toothpaste) contain harmful ingredients. Again, read your labels. That diaper rash cream could actually be aggravating the rash instead of healing it. And that toothpaste could be poisoning you.

Check out this list from Whole Foods.

Two of the biggest culprits here are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. These are known skin irritants, and show up in most body care products, even your toothpaste.

Read all about them: Dangers and Info.

Consider finding products that do not contain these harmful chemicals. Better yet, make your own.

Let's stop supporting the use of harmful substances in our food supply and our hygienic products.

Aspartame

Aspartame is masquerading in many "diet" and "sugar-free" foods and also in things like yogurt, children's chewable vitamins, Crystal Light and other powdered drink mixes, ketchup, salad dressings, Slim Fast, protein drink mixes, children's medicines, and of course coffee sweeteners and some creamers.

According to several sources, aspartame
-is the most dangerous artificial sweetener on the market
-accounts for 75% of all adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA
- many of these reactions include seizures and death
- the most common reported symptoms are headache, dizziness, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, vision and hearing problems, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, joint pain
-plays a role in the triggering or worsening of the following conditions: brain tumors, MS, epilepsy, CFS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, and fibromyalgia

It is composed of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol

Aspartic acid (40%) is an free excitatory amino acid that can cause serious chronic neurological disorders.

Phenylalanine (50%) is an amino acid normally found in the brain, and ingesting it in such excess can overload the brain, causing serotonin levels to decrease, leading to emotional disorders. Even one use of aspartame can raise phenylalanine levels in the blood enough to affect the brain.

Methanol/Wood Alcohol (10%) is a deadly poison. The absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when free methanol is ingested. IT breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body. An EPA assessment of of methanol states that "it is a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. Both formic acid and formaldehyde are toxic." One liter of an aspartame sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen, and can cause blindness.

This is scary, especially considering how many children's products have this ingredient. Read all your labels carefully, and avoid anything with aspartame.

Sources: The New Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford
Global College of Natural Medicine publications
http://aspartamekills.com/

More on Sweeteners

Many people whom I've recently spoken with about health/ diet/ nutrition are making me think more about artificial sweeteners. For people trying to give up sugar for whatever reason (calories, the use of animal products in its refinement, better overall health, etc.), it can be hard to find alternatives. I listed many options in my post about sugar, but feel the need to address aspartame in its many forms. From powdered drink mixes, to cereals, sodas, granola bars, and even juice, aspartame is a much-consumed alternative. Many products that you might be attracted to due to their "sugar-free" declaration, are in fact sweetened with aspartame.

I've always heard negative things about this sweetener, and I've done some more research on it. It has been linked to numerous health problems, and even the onset of several diseases. Although the FDA deems it safe, you should research it for yourself.

Check here and here for lists of health problems and dangers associated with aspartame.

So if you choose not to consume it anymore, what what can you replace it with?

Other than different types of sugars which might still contain those calories you are trying to avoid, the best option, in my opinion is Stevia.

To Order Stevia Leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs, Click on the Photo.

As found on wikipedia,

Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Medical research has also shown possible benefits of stevia in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

Stevia is a natural sweetener, and though it has been questioned (as all sweeteners are) in terms of safety, it's dangers are minimal compared to those of other, artificial sweeteners. Reference this post for more information on the chemistry and safety of stevia.

Stevia is readily available at your local market or health food store, and will meet most of your sweetening needs. I've never baked with stevia, but I've heard that it works well.

If you are interested in convenience, like powdered drink mixes, or sodas, check these sites:

Stevita and Zevia

And I'm sure you can find more stevia products, if you look.

Happy, healthy sweetening to you all.