With new health food stores opening up in Tulsa and the rise in organic products, we can say Tulsans are looking to become healthier. A great start is to know what to look for in our food. Laurel on Health has provided a great article on the list of food ingredients you should avoid:
Reading labels can be pretty tricky, especially when it comes to ingredients. But it’s important to read the list of ingredients in the foods we purchase, because we can’t trust the health claims advertised on the box. It’s easy for a company to say their food is “heart healthy” or “natural” without having any real evidence to back up those claims.
When I read food labels, I look for a small number of ingredients and real foods instead of chemicals. I also avoid any products that contain the ingredients listed below. While some people like to debate on whether each of these ingredients are bad or good for you, I would rather just avoid them altogether. Instead, I choose truly natural foods that I can trace directly back to a plant or animal (rather than a laboratory).
Unhealthy Ingredients to Avoid
Artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose) – These can trick your body into craving more calories than you would if you eat real sugar. Many have side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and weight gain, and they may contribute to nerve damage and cancer cell formation.
Excess sugars/refined sugars (such as dextrose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup) – Refined sugars are the hidden sugars in processed foods. Consuming lots of refined sugar leads to a ton of inflammatory health problems including diabetes, obesity, and a weakened immune system. They can also disrupt your body’s absorption of other important nutrients.
Hydrogenated oils - Partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils are trans fats. They can clog your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, and atherosclerosis (inflamed arteries).
Refined oils (such as corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean oil) - Most of the U.S. grown corn, soybean, canola, and cottonseed crops are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are sold without being tested for safety. GMO foods may cause allergies, harm your immune system, and increase your risk of cancer. When you use oils in your food, opt for high quality, unrefined oils such as organic extra virgin olive oil and organic coconut oil/butter.
Sodium nitrate/nitrite - These preservatives are added to foods such as processed meats to give them a pink color. When they reach your stomach they are converted into nitrosamines which are highly carcinogenic, increasing your cancer risk. Try to limit your intake of processed meats as much as possible (for ex., hot dogs, ham, bologna, sausage, and packaged lunch meats).
MSG – Monosodium Glutamate (including monosodium glutamate, free glutamate, caseinate, natural flavors, artificial flavors, hydrolyzed proteins, yeast extract, and autolyzed yeast) - These harmful additives and flavor enhancers can stunt growth and cause obesity and nerve damage. Look for labels that say “No MSG” and avoid the ingredients listed above. For more information about MSG, read “The Dangers of MSG“. http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_378860/The_Dangers_of_MSG
Artificial colors and dyes (such as red #40, blue #2, etc.) - These synthetic chemicals are often added to foods marketed towards children. They’ve been found to cause many health problems including hyperactivity, ADD, allergic reactions, and nerve damage.
Article provided by: http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com/2010/07/unhealthy-ingredients-to-avoid/
Start looking at those food labels and take an active role in improving your own health. Remember raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are the best choices you can make in providing your body with the fuel it needs.
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