Processed Foods Facts

Did you know this about processed food?
Cravings for processed foods are initiated by eating processed food?
Worse, processed foods are deliberately tampered with to create the desire for more of it.

Food scientists know that it is necessary for certain nutrients to be present in the blood stream in order to feel full.

While it is not fully understood how this process works, food companies know enough to use this knowledge to manipulate consumers into eating more by subtracting various nutrients, and adding others such as fat, sugar, and salt.

This manipulation creates a desire for processed foods – one that can never be satisfied – no matter how much of it you consume. It’s a vicious, addictive cycle.

Here’s Some Examples

• Nearly 6,000 chemicals and additives to processed food have replaced the simple use of vinegar, salt, and sunshine to keep food from spoiling.
• In addition, many processed foods are stripped bare – rendering them of little or no nutritional value before undergoing the factory-food transformation.

Junk Food

Junk food – high in fat and sugar – is one of the leading causes for the soaring number of cases of type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and tooth decay. It is also linked to hypoglycemia and yeast overgrowth.

Natural Flavoring

“Natural flavoring” can be just about anything, from the cells of yeast extract and nucleic acid from cell chromosomes, to waste bi-products from cattle.
Some reports suggest that the ingredients in so-called “natural colors” have been known to contain products as unlikely as bugs; others note that some “artificial flavors” are comprised of equally unappealing ingredients.

How can you possibly determine exactly what “flavorings” mean – when the list of items from which they are concocted often includes a long ramble of unrecognizable names?

Here is an example from the ingredient list of flavoring used for a strawberry milk shake from a popular fast food outlet:

It contains: Amyl acetate, Amyl butyrate, Amyl valerate, Anethol, Anisyl formate, Benzyl acetate, Benzyl isobutyrate, Butyric acid, Cinnamyl isobutyrate, Cinnamyl valerate, Cognac essential oil, Diacetyl, Dipropyl ketone, Ethyl butyrate, Ethyl cinnamate, Ethyl heptanoate, Ethyl lactate, Ethyl methylphenylglycidate, Ethyl Nitrate, Ethyl propionate, Ethyl valerbate, Heliotropin, Hydroxyphrenyl-2butanone (10% solution in alcohol), A-Ionone, Isobutyl anthranilate, Isobutyl butrate, Lemon essential oil, Maltol, 4-Methylacetophenone, Methyl anthranilate, Methyl benzoate, Methyl cinnamate, Methyl heptine carbonate, Methyl naphthyl ketone, Methyl salicylate, Mint essential oil, Neroli essential oil, Nerolin, Neryl isobutyrate, Orris butter, Phenethyl alcohol, Rose, Rum ether, G-Undecalactone, Vanillin, Solvent!

And that’s just the stuff in the flavoring

Do you want to know what’s in the “milk” part of this milk shake?

It contains: milk fat and nonfat milk, sugar, sweet whey, High-fructose corn syrup, Guar gum, Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Cellulose gum, Sodium phosphate, Carrageenan, Citric acid, E129, Artificial strawberry flavor. YUM, YUM- that’s good eatin’! And, so good for you, too. NOT!

And there’s more “stuff” getting into processed food from packaging.

Irradiation

Irradiation is one way that food processors use to keep packaged food safe. It is the use of x-rays or gamma radiation on food to kill bacteria mold, viruses, and parasites.

Unfortunately, its effects have been shown to be harmful to test animals. The animals fed a diet of irradiated wheat developed increased numbers of cells with genetic abnormalities and there were unexplained stillbirths in the offspring of test rats.

The mere sound of the word “irradiation” is so unpleasant that more pleasant substitutes such as “Cold Pasteurization” and “Picowaved For Your Protection” are being used on labels because food companies fear that using the term “irradiation” may hurt sales.

Dioxin

Dioxin is by-product of whitening, especially of food containers that has become a health concern.

It has been reported, for example, that certain ice creams contain high levels of dioxins, reportedly leaked into the product through the whitening used in its containers.   A known carcinogen, dioxin is associated with genetic and reproductive defects as well as learning disabilities. Dioxin exposure is a possible cause of endometriosis – a painful condition that can result in fertility problems and/or hysterectomy, as well as chronic pelvic pain and other conditions.

There are also concerns regarding the materials used to coat fresh foods to improve shelf life and appearance.

The protective wax on produce such as cucumbers, peppers, and apples may trigger allergies, and can contain pesticides, fungicide sprays, or animal byproducts. Further, the plastic (vinyl chloride) some food is wrapped in is considered carcinogenic, and has been linked to immune reactions and lung shock.

And, there’s the issues with GMO.

One thing is for certain
… most of these added ingredients have nothing to do with nutrition and everything to do with increasing processed food sales by keeping addicted, depleted consumers coming back for more.

The situation with processed food may seem hopeless – the opposite is true!

Knowledge is power.  It makes good sense to always pay attention to the food you are buying – especially if you are consuming processed food.  Simply use this knowledge to help you make different choices  ».

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