Now a days it seems when you read an ingredient list for
a packaged food you need a chemistry degree, or at least a dictionary to help with
pronunciation and definition of what exactly you are putting in to your
mouth. What is Monocalcium Phosphate(
spell check dose not even know what this word is) and why is it in my crackers?
More important is my body able to break it down and use it properly or dose it
just sit there and aggravate my white blood cells because they think it is a foreign
contaminate? Research indicates that
75%-80% of cancers are caused in part by environmental factors, and about 30%
of those are related to what you eat.* In 2005 Harvard published a study
that showed a correlation of French fries and breast cancer. “…found that preschool girls who consumed French fries on a
weekly basis raised future breast cancer risk by more than a quarter.”** Really 25% increase
from French fries? I know that French fries
are not by any means healthy but I had not idea that they were that detrimental
to my boobies and overall health.
We have become a culture that is pressed for time and
anything to make your life easier by taking less of your time is in great
demand. Trust me I know there are some
days that I am tired and over whelmed and a trip thru the local drive thru for
burgers and fries or chicken is easier, convenient, and makes less work out of
dinner and doing dishes later that night.
We ate out twice last week. But
we can not place all the blame on fast food either. Prepackaged convenience foods are
everywhere. There is a newer commercial
out for a prepackaged dinner mix convincing you that eating it is way better
than drive thru food but truthfully I think it may be just as bad. Look at the ingredient list from the package Ingredients:Enriched
Pasta (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin,
Folic Acid), Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Tomato (Dried), Maltodextrin, Monosodium
Glutamate, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Paprika, Natural Flavor, Basil,
Citric Acid, Yeast Extract, Parsley (Dried), Oregano, Color (Yellows 5&6,
Yellow Lakes 5&6, Red 40 Lake), Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking Agent), Disodium
Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Nonfat Milk
When prepared and served
there is over 1660 mg of sodium and that is if you have a small portion.
I recognize 9 ingredients of being a natural in
origin even though “dried” is not its natural state. What is “natural flavor” you see it a lot on
prepackaged foods. I could make this same dish and not use one unnatural ingredient
or so much sodium. When prepackaged version
is prepared and served there is over 1660 mg of sodium and that is if you have
a small portion.
A few months ago in my year of self improvement
I began to loose weight. My first step
was to get an outline of what and how I should really eat. I have a pretty good idea but wanted to know
what an expert would tell me. So I had
an appointment with the Registered Dietitian at my healthcare clinic. She talked about all the fruits veggies
grains and meats I should include.
Portion control being my biggest lesson, I tend to be an overeater and
suggested serving size some times seems to be a cruel joke. Then she talked about I what I call flavor
enhancers sour cream, butter, coffee creamer salad dressings ECT. Of course in wanting to choose the items with
less fat and calories a lot I was told to use mostly “reduced fat, no fat” versions
of these things. I started to buy these
things and learning to like that no fat aftertaste (not really). Then I really looked at the ingredient labels
on these so called healthier options.
What I saw bothered me there were so many chemical additives and very
little real ones.
Later in the year I had two health
scares both involving the possibilities of tumors. Thankful they were false alarms, one finding
out that I have lumpy breast and the other learning that I have a sever vitamin
B12 and vitamin D deficiency. A healthy
b12 level should be between 800 and 1,000 ppm mine was closer to 100 ppm. Vitamin D should be 30ppm mine 10ppm. I wondered how I had developed these deficiencies
I take multi vitamins. I found out that
when I was taking prescription strength antacid medication and over the counter
antacids I destroyed my bodies inability to breakdown and absorb these
vitamins. They just pass thru my digestive
system into waste. Even when I orally take
a vitamin of 5,000mg of D very little if any stays in my system. I now have to have vitamin injections every
month. I had been taking so many
antacids in part to all the foods I was eating and the other to I do not handle
stress well and internalize everything.
We really started to think about
what we eat and how it affects us.
Google food allergies, food and cancer or food and behavior problems and
you will see hundreds if not thousands of articles and medical studies that are
showing correlation to processed unnatural foods. French fries and breast cancer, diet soda and
dementia, food dyes and behavior problems or allergic reaction.
We have turned down this road here
in our farmhouse. Real and natural foods
are what we are striving to eat. I would
rather eat ¼ cup of regular vanilla yogurt in my parfait with more fruit to
bulk up the snack than to have a ¾ cup of light yogurt which includes things
like aspartame, acesulfame potassium and food dyes. I prefer to have 1 tablespoon of sour cream
and spend and extra 10 min walking tonight than to have 2.5 tablespoons of fat
free. We are trying to grow and buy more
organic fruit and vegetables, free range organic chicken eggs, and grass fed
beef. The fewer chemicals used to grow
your food the less you eat yourself. Also
more foods in their natural state are better they offer more nutrients and
vitamins they are also easier for your body to process.
Will it be easy to shift our way of
thinking about food and break so many habits?
Probably not, I just had chicken salad with mayo for lunch and crackers
with Monocalcium Phosphate in them. I will keep at it and try to make better and
better decisions.
You should not fear nor hate food. Food is what sustains your life.
** International Journal of Cancer Aug 2005 http://www.dole.com/LiveRight/WomensHealth/WomensHealthDetails/tabid/867/Default.aspx?contentid=4734
