Watch What You Eat

You want to reach the peak of your success with a healthy body, right? WARNING! Now is the time you have to take a close look into the food you and your loved ones take.

Our fast paced world today has pushed us to favor convenience over quality. Too much processed foods can cause a world of trouble for us more than we think, for one - processed foods lack nutrient density. This means that most of the vitamins and minerals are lost in processing or even absent from the beginning. Second, foods like chips, cookies, boxed meals, dips, etc. tend to make us over eat as we don’t feel full due to lack of fiber intake as compared to eating fruits and vegetables. The 3rd aspect of processed foods (and one we should be aware of) are the ingredients added during processing.

Food additives serve many purposes, most of which we are not even aware of, and often can do us harm. Discover not only what you’ve been ingesting, but also how it is affecting you and the world we live.

1. Food Dyes

If you have kids, this is a big one. NPR reported that the FDA is meeting this week to decide whether some foods with added dyes should either be banned or at least carry a warning label to let parents know ahead of time. Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest is most concerned about Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6, which make up 90 percent of the food dyes on the market. Food dyes are known to cause child hyperactivity and even ADHD. Though we’ve been using food dyes for years, use has gone up fivefold in the past 50 years, according to the article. Food dyes are found in processed foods especially fruit snacks, candy, cookies, icing, sausage, and cereal. Read labels and stick to whole foods to avoid them.

2. BPA

A new study has found that the majority of our exposure to dangerous synthetic hormones, namely Bisphenol A (BPA) is canned foods. Organic or not, 92 percent of canned foods have BPA. Rachel wrote that organic brand names Muir Glen, Amy’s, Bionaturae, and S&W Organic all do use BPA in their canned foods.

3. Phthalates

Phthalates are another synthetic hormone often found in canned foods. Phthalates are a chemical associated with endocrine disruption in animals and in some human studies. In laboratory animal tests, they have been shown to cause reproductive and neurological damage. They are often found in personal care products as well as canned foods. Avoid them by eating fresh foods that aren’t packaged whenever possible.

4. Palm Oil

More than what palm oil does to your body (palm oil contain highly saturated fat, and can increase cholesterol) it is how today’s excessive use of palm oil harm our environment.

In an article, Grist writes:

The main threat to the orangutans’ survival, as well as other endangered wildlife like Sumatran tigers, Sumatran rhinoceroses, and pygmy elephants, was the clearing and burning of Southeast Asia’s rainforests for palm oil, an additive in cookies, crackers, and cosmetics.

Look for the ingredient in your snack foods, cut out on this and you can to your share to save the world.

5. Hidden Trans Fats

Many processed foods claim to be trans fat free when really there is .49 grams per serving. While this may seem like a minimal amount, the American Heart Association says that you should have 2% or less per day. Be careful, this minuscule amounts (specially when accumulated) have a big impact. Be extra vigilant with baked goods, refrigerated doughs, and snack foods. In these cases make sure they are made with olive, coconut, or canola oil. Trans fats are known to increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL (good cholesterol). They also make the blood vessels less flexible and have a negative impact on blood pressure.

6. MSG

Michelle Schoffro Cook wrote that MSG Monosodium Glutamateis linked to hormonal imbalances, weight gain, brain damage, obesity, and headaches, and it’s still found in a surprising amount of foods.

Click on this link to know where MSG is hidden. http://www.msgtruth.org/avoid.htm

Favor home cooked meals or Go to restaurants that make things from scratch. If you have to go eat fast food read this list you may want to consider:

    AVOID all CHICKEN items

    AVOID all SAUSAGE items

    AVOID all PARMESAN items

    AVOID all Ranch dressings - stick to oil and vinegar Italian

    AVOID Croutons

    AVOID Dipping Sauces

    AVOID Gravy

    AVOID TOMATO AND MUSHROOM soups

7. Lead

In this one, juice drinks are the culprit. According to a story on Natural News, 85 percent of beverages marketed to children contain dangerous levels of lead. The levels were high enough to require a warning under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, popularly known as Prop. 65. By juicing at home you can use what’s available seasonally, choose organic fruits and vegetables, and eliminate lead.

SOURCE

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