You Are What You Eat!

"Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture, the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest" - Marilyn Ferguson

Shopping for food used to be as simple as ABCs: apples, bread and cheese or a combination of fruit, vegetables, dairy, meats and grains.  Nowadays there is a lot more to choose from and not only that, one must have a science degree to decipher the labels of many of the processed foods. Unfortunately, with processed foods, some valuable nutrients may be lost.  As well, additives may have basic functions such as enhancing flavors and colors, be preservatives, emulsifiers and thickeners.  But additives have their drawbacks.

SUPER BAD

Here are the top five to keep an eye on:

1. Added Sugars - these are flavor enhancers (make food products taste sweet) and the various sugars used all end in "_ose", such as , dextrose, fructose and glucose.

While these items may be at the end of the ingredient list, when they are added up, it can amount to a sizable amount of sugar.

2. Artificial Food Colors - food dyes are produced from different sources such as plants, bugs and synthetic sources such as petroleum.  These are used in assorted food products to make them visually appealing, such as in candies, flavored yogurts and drinks.  There has been a connection suggested between certain food dyes and hyperactivity in children, as well as some allergic reactions to red dyes that come from the cochineal beetle.

3. Sweetening Agents - these compounds are known as sugar alcohols.  We use them because they provide sweetness with fewer calories than regular sugar and are found in a variety of products such as chewing gum, candies, pop etc.

Sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol (all ending in "_itol"), are examples of these compounds.

In small quantities they are usually well tolerated but can cause abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea in larger quantities, especially in individuals who are more sensitive.

4. Trans Fats - preservatives, produced when liquid oils are hardened through the process of hydrogenation. These are mainly used to extend the shelf life of foods.

Beware of these fats - they not only lower levels of the beneficial HDL-cholesterol, but also boost artery-clogging LDL-cholesterol.  Avoid anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, since it means its high in saturated fats, which in turn means, its high in cholesterol-boosting fat!

5. Sodium Nitrate - these are preservatives used in processed meats such as bacon, ham, hot dogs and luncheon meats as well as cured products. 

While shopping for processed meats, look for those that do not contain nitrates or nitrites.  These compounds are currently being investigated as possible culprits in the development for colon cancer.

In tomorrow's blog, I will focus on the SUPER HEROES!