SMART Tips for Good Health: What's in your food?

Let's take a look at the REAL truth here for a second. We live in a society that is always in a hurry, always on the go! Over the past several decades, the fast food industry has grown and the amount of precooked foods in our supermarkets have too. Most of us claim that we just don’t have the time to grab the raw and healthy foods to cook a well-balanced meal. Have you ever taken a look at the back of the box of one of your food items and read the nutrition label? Do you know any of the ingredients mentioned? You may be asking, what’s so bad about them? Or you could be saying to yourself, who cares? If you care about your health, and are trying to live your life illness free, YOU should care.

Why?...You ask... wells it's because the fast food industry obviously no longer cares about our health and is slowly but surely killing you. How?- With preservatives and food additives.

What's that?

Preservatives are additives to food to help them last longer. Whether they are frozen meals or crackers or slices of turkey, these items were designed to have a longer shelf life than what is normal for them. Preservatives are also used by food manufacturers to block the growth of harmful microorganisms and improve the appearance of the food. Sounds beneficial, right? But what you need to know is that preservatives may increase health risks. Let’s take a look at a few common ones:

1. BHT/BHA: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)/ Butylated hydroxy anisol (BHA). These are used to preserve common household foods such cereals, chewing gum and potato chips. BHA has been shown to cause tumors in rats, rabbits and hamsters. And while it has not been scientifically proven to cause tumors in humans, CSPI (Center for Science and Public interest) believes that there is a strong correlation to the same effects in humans when a chemical causes problems in at least three different species .There is a very strong possibility that these preservatives could also cause tumors in our own bodies if they are frequently found in the foods that we are consuming.

2. Nitrates: These preservatives help prevent discoloration in meats and are commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer. After ingestion, your body converts nitrites, into nitrosamines, which is a substance that can cause cancer. Research has linked high dietary consumption of processed meat that has been preserved with nitrites with an increase in the risk of stomach cancer.

3. Artificial Sweeteners: Saccharin, Aspartame, and High Fructose Corn Syrup have small quantities of poisons because they alter brain neurochemistry. High fructose corn syrup contains mercury and over time damages body cells. (Be careful with this, the food industry likes to hide these sweeteners under names like "natural flavors")

4. Refined Sugar: High consumption of sugar, and the corresponding elevated insulin levels, can cause weight gain, bloating, fatigue, arthritis, migraines, lowered immune function, gallstones, obesity, breast cancer, gum disease and cavities, and cardiovascular disease. It’s best to use raw cane sugar as much as possible.

5. Monosodium Glutamate: aka MSG (also hidden in secret code names such as Natural flavors, autolyzed yeast, and others) is used to flavor food, since food no longer has real flavor because of over cooking and a variety of chemicals and pesticides used and lack of any nutrients left in over farmed soil - destroys nerve cells in the brain but the authorities don’t seem to care much since MSG may be hidden in infant formula, low fat milk, candy, chewing gum, drinks, over-the-counter medications (especially children’s), as a binder and filler for nutritional supplements and fruit yogurts, in prescription drugs, IV fluids given in hospitals, and in the chicken pox vaccine. Lovely, no? But that’s not all. This stuff is harmful because, it inhabits natural growth hormone and dramatically promotes irreversible obesity. Other reactions include headaches, nausea, weakness, a burning sensation in the back of neck and forearms, wheezing or difficulty in breathing, and changes in heart rate, pulse rate, and/or heart palpitation.

6. Genetically Modified Organisms: GMOs are plants or animals that have had their DNA modified. In the US, the majority of the corn, soybean, cotton, and canola crops are now genetically modified, and one or more of these can be found in nearly every processed food. Testing that has been done in the past has shown GMOs can increase food toxicity, allergy susceptibility, immune suppression, resistance to antibiotics, and the incidence of cancer but testing has been stopped for many reasons to suppress the national media “frenzy” until there is a national (or military) policy regarding food in US and subsequent food shortages that may take place if GMO foods/plants were stopped.

Scary stuff isn’t it.? That’s why its so important that we watch what we allow our bodies to absorb. We can make a change in our futures by saying “No” to preservatives and starting healthy habits now. How?

1. Read your labels

2. Avoid Processed and pre-packaged foods

3. Shop for whole and organic foods

You are worth the extra effort!