food dyes

These Food Additives Are Linked To Cancer, Diabetes And Obesity

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Food Additives

We are living in a time where processed foods containing food additives take up way more square footage in the local grocery store than fresh fruits and vegetables. With large advertising budgets and clever marketing techniques, processed foods have grown in popularity and are wreaking havoc on the health of our population.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame, and food dyes are some of the most intrusive food additives out there. So, learn more about why you need to avoid these additives as much as you can!

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

HFCS is a highly processed form of sugar that is responsible for encouraging weight gain and increases the risk of diabetes. It can be found in;

  • Pop
  • Juice
  • Candy
  • Salad dressings
  • Bread
  • Cereals
  • Baked goods
  • Ice cream

In addition to many other sweetened foods.

Artificial Sweeteners Cause Weight Gain, Cancer & Brain Death

Artificial Sweeteners

Most foods that are labeled as “sugar-free” or “diet” versions of the original product contain Aspartame. Although artificial sweeteners allow foods to have a lower caloric value, they have still been linked to weight gain and obesity.

In addition, due to their neurotoxic and carcinogenic properties, they are not a healthy solution. Aspartame is readily found in;

  • Jello
  • Sugar-free yogurt
  • Diets sodas
  • Sugar-free gum
  • Condiments
  • Meal replacements
msg

MSG Or Monosodium Glutamate

Also known as a silent flavour enhancer, MSG affects the regulation of satiety leading to overeating. It is most commonly known for being added to Chinese food to enhance flavour but can also be found in;

  • Potato chips
  • Dips
  • Gravies
  • Bouillon
  • Cold meats
  • Fast foods

Knowing your food additives is the key to knowing if you are eating MSG unknowingly as MSG is found in many other additives including;

  • Autolyzed yeast
  • Gelatin
  • Textured protein
  • Yeast extract
  • Hydrolyzed protein 

Furthermore, MSG is a known excitotoxin, which when consumed, can over-stimulate cells and cause them to die or can cause severe damage to cells.

food dyes

Food Dyes

This can be identified on the label as a colour followed by a number. 

For example, Red #40 and Blue #1 are both commonly used to enhance or alter the colour of food. Most food dyes are derived from petroleum products, which have been linked to cancer. 

Food dyes have a range of side effects including hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and even cancer.  They are found in;

  • Yogurt
  • Cereals
  • Pickles
  • Protein bars
  • Soups and bouillon cubes
  • Candy among many others

The take away from this information is to limit the consumption of boxed or processed food to the bare minimum. 

Utilizing fresh fruits and vegetables as the main staples of your diet will eliminate these nasty food additives and they will also help to protect your body from disease.

I encourage you to keep a food diary for the span of one week. Then, make an estimation of the proportion of your diet that comes from a box, can or has had some form of processing.  Next, work to make substitutions in your diet until you’ve gotten processed foods down to less than 10% of your diet. Focus on eating a diet full of whole foods that are in their natural state.

How To Read Labels Like a Pro and Cut Grocery Shopping Time In Half

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How To Read Labels Like a Pro and Cut Grocery Shopping Time In Half

Are you confident in your ability to read food labels?

Maybe you haven’t really taken the time to ever read a label properly before, or you are so overwhelmed by the information presented on the label that you just don’t bother.

It is time to get on the label reading train so you can be properly educated on what you are feeding your family and you can get in and out of the grocery store in half the time. No more staring at a label for 5 minutes trying to decipher if you should put it in your cart or not.

First off, it is critical to note that you won’t find a label on anything in the produce section of the grocery store – and this is where the majority of your food should be found!

The reason for that is that those foods haven’t been processed. The focus of your grocery shopping trip should be concentrated to the produce department, filling your cart full of wonderfully nutrient rich fruits and vegetables. It is important to be mindful on what produce should be purchased organically if funds and availability allow for it.

Leafy greens, strawberries, grapes, celery, and apples are some of the most highly sprayed crops and therefore should be purchased organically if possible.

As you move into the packaged food section of the grocery store, you will want to focus on the following tips to ensure you are reading labels properly.

1. Check the serving size first, and consider what a realistic serving size is for your family. In the case of most packaged products, the serving size is an unrealistic estimate of what a typical person would eat and therefore causes the caloric values, fat and sugar content to appear more acceptable.

2. Most people only focus on the top half of the label where you will find the caloric content and nutritional breakdown. While this information is important to know, the list of ingredients will be more helpful in determining just what additives might be present. Remember that the ingredients are listed in descending order based on their volume, so if a harmful item is listed as one of the first five ingredients then you may want to reconsider what you are buying.

3. Choose products with the fewest number of ingredients. But, also make sure that you know and feel comfortable eating what all the ingredients are.

4. Purchase frozen vegetables and fruit instead of canned to eliminate exposure to preservatives that are used in the canning process.

5. Beware of endorsements on products and clever marketing campaigns that make any special product claims. Just because a label claims it is sugar-free, diet, all natural or trans fat free doesn’t mean that it is healthy. 

6. Finally, avoid ingredients like monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial sweeteners (Splenda or aspartame), sodium nitrate, food dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, refined grains, and any other items on the label that are almost impossible to pronounce.

By following these tips, a trip to the grocery store should be a lot less confusing and time consuming. Remember that life isn’t perfect, and neither will your grocery shopping experience be. 

Select products that are as close to natural as you can and always keep your eyes open for higher quality alternatives.