Long before the industrial age, human beings relied solely on the food they could hunt, gather or grow. The food eaten by many people for many years was seasonal and indigenous to their geographical area.
Since the industrial age, the invention of refrigeration and food processing technology, the eating habits of people, particularly in America, has become a matter of convenience. It all started with pasteurization and canned foods. “With advanced technology our modern food industry’s reliance on processing and additives continues to increase”, says Dr. Julia Gonen from Gaia Naturopathic Clinic.
Foods that are labeled “fresh “ or “natural” are often times processed with preservatives that mimic the real flavors provided by Mother Nature. Some foods are made entirely from chemical ingredients.
If you can’t pronounce the ingredient then you probably shouldn’t put it in your mouth. Some of the harmful chemicals you will commonly find on labels are; sodium benzoate, food colorings, BHA, BHT, MSG, sodium nitrate just to name a few. (www.cnn.com/healthand www.gaianaturpathic.com)
There is no doubt about it. We cannot escape synthetic substances. More than 2 million are known and thousands more are being produced commercially and approved by the FDA each and every year. (“Detoxification & Body Cleansing” Linda Rector-page, ND, PhD)
Reading labels is a sure way to minimize or reduce exposure to harmful additives and chemicals that are ever present in processed foods. Many processed foods are linked directly to various health problems such as; allergies, migraine headaches, Type II diabetes, gout, immune system deficiencies, hyperactivity in children and lethargy. Keeping a food diary will help you understand how your body responds to processed foods. By cutting down or cutting out highly processed food and replacing your diet with nutritious “live” foods you can avoid extended exposure to harmful ingredients.
To protect yourself, minimize eating highly processed foods. Be sure that your digestive system is in good working order so toxins are eliminated quickly. “Optimally, one should seriously cleanse the body twice a year.” (Linda Rector-Page, ND, PhD)
Be a good steward to your body. It is an amazing machine that will operate optimally when it is fed the right fuel.
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