It can be easy to be fooled by marketing labels using the legally undefined terms of, “100% Natural”, “Low-fat”, “Sugar free.” They sound good for you, right? That’s the plan! Those instead should become warning flags that it is time to read the ingredients list. With the increase of chemicals in our food, so has the rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes increased, so it is wise to read nutritional labels of processed and fast foods. It can help you say, No, thank you! Food is to be fuel for health, not to manipulate the taste buds to crave more. Our digestive system is made for real food. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, your body probably won’t either.
Europe protects their consumers by banning known cancer-causing ingredients in processed foods, so these American companies have formulated a healthier version to sell overseas: Quaker, Post, Mars, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Pepsi, Heinz, and Campbells. If you have a favorite product made by one of those companies, contact them and tell them you want the healthier version that they sell in Europe for you and your family! Here are top toxic ingredients to be on the lookout for; the toxins that are italicized are banned in Europe.
Artificial or Highly processed sweeteners: sucralose (which is Splenda), Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame K or Ace-K, Corn syrup (glucose-fructose syrup), white sugar. The worst offenders are sports drinks, energy drinks, sodas, sweetened tea, and vitamin water, many cereals, baked goods, yogurts, and condiments.
MSG or monosodium glutamate is a toxin that goes by many names: Accent, yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, whey or soy protein isolate. It is added to processed meat, chips, frozen dinners, canned vegetables, soup, instant noodles, and condiments. Many fast food chains and Chinese food restaurants add this chemical to their food too to get people to eat more.
Trans fats: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, margarine, Olestra. Found in fried and baked goods (including refrigerated dough), microwave popcorn, frozen pizza, fast food, vegetable shortening, margarine, coffee creamer, and frostings.
GMO: Crops have been genetically modified by Monsanto so they can withstand more dousing of toxic pesticides and herbicides sold by Monsanto. Produce that is most likely GMO are: alfalfa, apples, corn, soy, sugar beets, papaya, zucchini or yellow squash, and canola. If a packaged product doesn’t say it is 100% organic, then look for a label that it is either certified or verified to be GMO free.
Synthetic additives: vitamins (added to products stripped of nutrition such as cereals, breakfast bars, protein drinks) and other isolates (whey), brominated vegetable oil found in sports drinks, citrus drinks, and premixed beverages. Chicken and baby carrots are dipped in chlorine.
Artificial Coloring, toxic preservatives: BHA and BHT (butter, cereal, snack foods, instant mashed potatoes, meat, mixed nuts, gum…), food dyes, sodium nitrates, sodium sulfites, potassium bromate & azodicarbonamide (added to flour used in baking, in pasta and fast food).
Produce highest in toxic pesticides: strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes/raisins, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes. Also high in pesticides: blueberries, green beans, leafy greens, plums, sweet peppers, winter squashes. Make sure you eat these organic. For a list of the produce lowest in pesticides go to Environmental Working Group’s website.
Ideally, grow your own organic food (fresh picked is most nutritious), and prepare your own foods. Eat more plants, more whole food, and become a label reader. Avoid fast foods and processed as much as possible, and if you are considering them, read their ingredients—it can help you make better choices. In doing my research, I found it interesting that Europe has also banned Tide laundry detergent because of the cancer causing dioxane, it has the highest level of that ingredient than other detergents. So while you are at it, read labels of products that get on your skin too, cross check them for their ratings here, for they too will be absorbed.
With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones. Ephesians 6:18
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