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Healthy Kids
What Are You Feeding Your Children?
Chemicals in Food Most people just buy food at the grocery store and don’t think about what they are paying for. The majority of the food in the store is either sprayed with something or has a lot of added chemicals.Packaged food is one of the worst for this. Have you ever really read the ingredients? I am not talking about the Food Facts Lable or Nutrition Facts Lable….I am talking about the actual ingredients. It is very scarry! If an item has more than 5 ingredients you had better think twice about buying it.(unless it is an all natural certified organic product) Don’t think that the big food companies care about your health….they don’t! They care about the $ they bring in. Sure it may taste good and the nutrition label says it is okay. Don’t be fooled. It is the ingredients that really count. Below is a list of some of the chemicals/additives in our food. This is a short list ,there are a great many more. I believe that it is best to buy fresh organic food whenever possible. If you don’t buy organic buy a good veggie wash (most health food stores have it) and wash everything in it. Make sure that it is made from all natural organic ingredients. Propyl Gallate This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling,might cause cancer. It’s used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT (see below). BHA and BHT Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used similarly to propyl gallate — to keep fats and oils from going rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness), these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives. Potassium Bromate This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in that state. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips and many more. There is a link between sudden cardiac death,particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are,according to a recent study, “A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die.” Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods. Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970s, however a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors. People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it. Acesulfame-K Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that’s about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It’s used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this additive’s safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaksdown into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits and dogs. Olestra Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips,marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence , along with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body’s ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein andbeta-carotene. Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate) Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative,coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, cornedbeef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats which promote heart disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more. It’s used because it reduces cost and increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods. Blue 1 and Blue 2 Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice. Red 3 This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), bakedgoods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well. Yellow 6 As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens. Like diet soda? The aspartame that’s used to sweeten it increases lymphomas, leukemia and brain tumors in rats — even in small doses. It would be a good idea for everyone that shops for food to go on-line and find out about dangerous food additives. It only takes afew minutes and it might save your health. All parents want their children to be healthy and happy. That is why it is so importat for them to receive wholesome nurishing food. Canned, packaged and jarred food is not healthy food. Buy fresh or frozen (fresh is best). It does take a little extra time because you actually have to prepare and cook the food. But the health benifits for you and children is well worth it. For healthy treats make air popped popcorn. Use olive oil instead of margarine or butter or just sprinkle with dried herbs. Go to the health food store and buy snacks there. Use fresh fruit as the main snack source throught the week and have all natural (organic) chips or popcorn on the weekend. Kellee Ganci
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