{"id":517915,"date":"2010-04-06T13:01:24","date_gmt":"2010-04-06T17:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.szone.us\/f86\/what-s-your-food-41881\/"},"modified":"2010-04-06T13:01:24","modified_gmt":"2010-04-06T17:01:24","slug":"what%c2%92s-in-your-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/517915","title":{"rendered":"What\u0092s In Your Food?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>04.05.10 07:01 PM<\/p>\n<p>You\u0092re  in the food store and get lost in all the claims about what is healthy and not  healthy for you. So you make your way to a vitamin shop or Whole Foods and try  your luck there. But when you grab a bag of this, or a bar of that and turn it  to check out the label\u0085 you are just as lost. What IS all that stuff in there? <\/p>\n<p>In  this article I\u0092d like to discuss the worst and the best ingredients in the  so-called healthy bars and drinks. I hope you will find this information  helpful in your healthful shopping adventures for the healthiest foods for you  and your family.<\/p>\n<p><b>MSG\u0097<\/b>These initials meanMonosodium Glutamate. It is the main  flavor enhancer in your local Chinese take-out place. Like Mrs. Dash, MSG  enhances flavor especially in frozen and processed foods\u0085 and causes people who  are allergic to it to experience headaches, rashes and muscle pains. In fact,  the American Academy of Pediatrics removed MSG from  all products for infants under the age of one after injections into lab animals  showed nerve cell damage! <\/p>\n<p>Despite  the fact that MSG has been proven a poisonous substance, it is so widely used  that you might not even think where it might be. Cans of tuna? You bet! Turkey  breast cold cuts? Absolutely, in some brands! And the result: an increase in  neurodegerative diseases like Alzheimer\u0092s, a serious rise in cases of asthma,  Parkinson\u0092s disease, migraine headaches and heart trouble. <\/p>\n<p>Bottom  line: Stay away from MSG. Check the label of everything you buy and avoid the  brands that include it. And when ordering food from a restaurant, they are  obligated by law to NOT include MSG if you specifically tell them you are  allergic. Sounds like a plan.<\/p>\n<p><b>Maltodextrin\u0097<\/b>Maltodextrin is  essentially a powder derived from potatoes or corn and when combined with other  spices and ingredients it becomes a tasty coating for snack foods. This powder  food additive is found in items like flavored potato chips, pretzels and  crackers. <\/p>\n<p>While  the FDA says this chemical is \u0093safe,\u0094 it does not label it as being either  healthy or unhealthy. That is, the content amount found in food is so low that  it barely counts. Yet, in large quantities it is not healthy. So what is \u0093non  toxic\u0094 in one bag of chips may not be so healthy when one eats several bags of  chips, pretzels, crackers in the course of a week, a month or a year. <\/p>\n<p>And  while the matodextrin processed in North America  is derived from potato and corn, the Asian equivalent is manufactured from  wheat and is thus not gluten free. This means that if you are prone to migraine  headaches, candida or have Celiac disease\u0085 you should stay away from snacks  imported from Asia. <\/p>\n<p>Again,  check the labels. If an item contains maltodextrin it will say so and if it  contains the wheat-based form, this must also be noted on the package. In  moderation, the sweet or savory aspect of this additive can be delightful. But  over-consumption is unhealthy. Not just because it is a chemical but because  the foods it is used to flavor are, themselves, not on the diet plan of any  serious wellness program!<\/p>\n<p><b>High Fructose Corn  Syrup\u0097<\/b>This  sweetener has been called the main culprit in the rise in childhood obesity in  the United States\u0085  but has been given a clean bill by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Talk  about bipolar! No wonder we don\u0092t know what is going on with our health. Well,  here\u0092s the scoop\u0085<\/p>\n<p>High-fructose  corn syrup (HFCS) is corn syrup that has undergone enzymatic processing to  convert its glucose into fructose. This fructose has then been mixed with  regular corn syrup, which is 100 percent glucose, and the result is a sweet  liquid known as HFCS. <\/p>\n<p>This  liquid is the sweetener found in just about every cold beverage in your local  convenience store, including iced tea, sodas and energy drinks. Not only that,  but it is also found in so-called healthy foods like tomato soup and yogurt,  and less healthy items such as salad dressings and cookies.<\/p>\n<p>Yes  it\u0092s true that the FDA did a 30-year study and found a correlation between HFCS  and obesity and that it is worse for your health than plain sugar. Yet the Corn  Refiners Association has launched an aggressive advertising campaign to counter  these criticisms, claiming that HFCS &quot;is natural&quot; and &quot;has the  same natural sweeteners as table sugar.\u0094<\/p>\n<p>Well,  if you have any questions, just look to two of the largest-consumed beverages,  Pepsi and Snapple. Both have ditched the nasty stuff and gone back to  sweetening their drinks with plain old sugar. Stay away from the HFCS, it will  make you fatter than sugar!<\/p>\n<p><b>Partially Hydrogenated  Oils\u0097<\/b>Whatever  you do, stay clear of hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. They are  unnatural and very unhealthy. You see, the original oil is subjected to  hydrogenation, which changes its molecular structure. This allows the oil  molecules to harden thus giving it a longer shelf life, which is why  manufacturers like it. But the changed oils are actually closer to plastic than  to oil, and the hydrogenation process kills the omega-3 and omega-6 essential  fatty acids, which are the healthy parts of the original oils.<\/p>\n<p>What  this means is that the body does not get the desired antioxidant affect of  consuming oils, and the new hydrogenated oils are then treated in the body as  fatty foods that the bloodstream can\u0092t process. The result is fat stored in the  body. Excess storage of fat in the body and arterial plaque build-up, then, are  the big issues with partially hydrogenated oils. <\/p>\n<p>Avoid  foods containing partially hydrogenated oils at all costs. Check the labels on  spreads, crackers, cookies, cakes and even some so-called fruit snacks. <\/p>\n<p>The  bottom line is you should eat natural foods and fresh foods and always read the  labels. When in doubt, write down the ingredient and do an online search. You  just might be surprised at what you find!<\/p>\n<p>The  ones listed above are the worst ingredients found in the foods you eat. These  are the \u0093foods\u0094 that the FDA says are okay to feed Americans. Yet, we are  becoming sicker faster than ever before and suffering long, slow deaths from heart  disease, obesity and high cholesterol levels. <\/p>\n<p>Now  I want to tell you about the best ingredients to look for in the foods you eat.  These are among the best foods you can eat and should be included in your daily  diet. Let\u0092s take a look at what they are.<\/p>\n<p><b>Whole Grain\u0096<\/b>*Before we get to  whole grain, let\u0092s first look at \u0093enriched flour\u0094 products. These are the  breads and rolls and pastas that are first stripped of their outer grain  portion, removed of their nutrients and bleached of their natural color. The product  is so poor and so value-less that they are \u0093enriched\u0094 with vitamins and  nutrients. Ridiculous! Forget these products, they are scams and unnatural.<\/p>\n<p>What  you should be grabbing for are whole grain products. These are carbohydrates  that are made from the entire grain and contain the original vitamins,  nutrients and fiber and are thus good for digestive regularity, normal blood  sugar levels, healthy cholesterol levels and optimal brain function.<\/p>\n<p>When  checking out the ingredients on carbohydrate products, looks for those where  the first ingredient listed says whole grain, whole wheat, whole meal or whole  corn. These will be in the form of bread, pastas, hot cereals, brown rice,  bulger, buckwheat, spelt and wild rice. The United States Department Of  Agriculture (USDA) suggests that each of us get at least three servings of  whole grains every day.<\/p>\n<p><b>Soy Lecithin\u0097<\/b>A product of  soybean oil and also extracted from soya beans, soy lecithin is used as an  emulsifier in prepared foods. It keeps chocolate from crumbling or splintering,  helps dough rise in baked goods and keeps spreadable \u0093butters\u0094 and cheeses from  separating. <\/p>\n<p>This  product has passed the muster of the American Dietetic Association. It was  found not only safe, but also good for you. As a result, soy lecithin also  comes in supplement form. You see, it\u0092s packed with choline, which is found in  eggs and is known to boost brain development while also preventing heart  disease, lowering cholesterol and helps treat dementia. Not too shabby.<\/p>\n<p>The  bottom line is, the USDA says soy lecithin is a safe emulsifier. And keeping  your intake below 3.5 grams per day will yield no known side effects. So if you  have to grab a bite of a processed food, look for this as its \u0091hold it  together\u0092 ingredient. Better yet\u0085 go for whole, unprocessed foods instead.<\/p>\n<p><b>Disodium Phosphate\u0097<\/b>The liver and  gallbladder are so important to your health and wellness. They help purify  blood and break down toxins and fats. As far as food preservatives go, disodium  phosphate is one of the better ones. In fact, it helps maintain proper pH  levels in the body as well as metabolizing cholesterol. <\/p>\n<p>Disodium  phosphate is found in products such as frozen hash browns (to keep their brown  color), canned tuna (for buffering and chelating), poultry and pork (as a  scalding agent) and potato products (as a sequestrant).<\/p>\n<p>On  the whole it is best to avoid preservatives in foods as they are generally  toxic to the body and harmful to the liver. However, disodium phosphate  actually supports liver and gallbladder function and has properties that foster  good health. So, go ahead and eat limited amounts of preserved meats, fish and  potato products\u0097just be sure they are preserved with disodium phosphate and  nothing else.<\/p>\n<p><b>Riboflavin\u0097<\/b>Who doesn\u0092t know  how vital the B vitamins are to the body? Like magnesium, the B-complex  vitamins are essential to so many vital functions of the body. And riboflavin  (B2) is among the most important of the group.<\/p>\n<p>In  fact, a deficiency of riboflavin can cause nervous system disorders and lesions  on the skin and digestive tract. This water-soluble vitamin helps maintain  normal cell function and proper metabolism and aids in the production of  energy. <\/p>\n<p>Vitamin  B2 is found in both plant and animal tissue. As such, if you eat a  well-balanced diet there will be no need to take a supplement containing this  vitamin. Riboflavin can be found in meat, green vegetables and dairy products. <\/p>\n<p>In  conclusion, there are many healthy and unhealthy foods out there. But even  among prepared foods, there can be healthy options. The choice is yours to  make. So next time you are out shopping, or running to grab a quick snack,  check the labels. Look for those foods containing whole grains, soy lecithin, disodium phosphate and riboflavin. They can do a body good!<\/p>\n<p><i><b>\u0097<\/b>Dr. Mark Wiley<\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.personalliberty.com\/personal-liberty-articles\/whats-in-your-food\/\" >http:\/\/www.personalliberty.com\/perso&#8230;-in-your-food\/<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>04.05.10 07:01 PM You\u0092re in the food store and get lost in all the claims about what is healthy and not healthy for you. So you make your way to a vitamin shop or Whole Foods and try your luck there. But when you grab a bag of this, or a bar of that and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4498,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-517915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=517915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517915\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=517915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=517915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=517915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}