Crap in Food

Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “Holy *kitten*, what a ride!”

Have fun eating your organic cardboard.

But in addition to my previous post, if anyone does have anything showing that diacetyl is indeed harmul at reasonable doses, please PM it to me or post here. I'm not aware of anything but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I prepare almost all my food from scratch these days. I also do the bulk of my shopping from Trader Joe's, which doesn't use GMO, preservatives, or artificial flavors in their products either. If I do decide to drink a soda, I go for regular to avoid artificial sweeteners, one sweetened with cane sugar if possible. I try to snack on fruits and veggies over chips and candy. If I go eat something prepackage, I check the ingredients and try to opt for something as natural as possible. Granola bars are the one thing I keep in my diet that I would like to ditch (but they're so damn convenient!) but I try to stick with bars that are natural and free of things like HFCS. Clif Bar, Nature's Valley, Luna Bar, and Larabars are all excellent if I need an on the go snack.

Even organic food runs a risk. Have you not heard about the recall on Trader Joe's peanut butter from the recent salmonella outbreak?

As long as the salmonella is natural with no artificial sweeteners, it's totally safe!

Would it be inappropriate to pop some popcorn for this thread??

How does popcorn contribute to Alzheimers? It's one of my favourite snacks, so I need some hard evidence before I abandon it!

I used to know, but I forgot.. guess I have been eating too much popcorn!!! LOL!

Nobody said that popcorn contributes to alzheimers. A recent study has found that diacetyl, an ingredient in popcorn responsible for its buttery flavor and smell, may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease, UPI.com reported.

Ah, thanks for that clarification. So it's artificial butter rather than popcorn that is linked to Alzheimers. The popcorn I eat has no artificial butter added to it - it's simply popcorn. I pop it in a pan, and add my own salt and butter (real butter - it's much nicer than artificial butter!). You could also do that, and then you'd still get the popcorn you love without any links to Alzheimers.

There are lots of simple ways to help prevent Alzheimers. See here: http://jeancarper.com/inside-book/table-of-contents/

Would it be inappropriate to pop some popcorn for this thread??

If you want to get really creeped out, start researcheing genetically modified food and what is being learned about those. I am getting pickier and pickier about my food choices.

Oh my god yes, don't get me started on GMOs! I try to avoid corn and soy, and anything with corn syrup. makes me sick thinking about what we eat. California is currently trying to pass Prop 34 I think its called, calling for labeling of GMOs. Of course its being vehemently shut down by the food industry and Monsanto...

I'm trying to eat more natural foods and refrain from things I'd need a Chemistry degree to pronounce. I quit diet Coke about 6 months ago; Zevia makes a calorie-free soda with 100% stevia (as opposed to Blue-Sky Free (uses Truvia - Truvia adds other ingredients to their sweetener) that tastes good and doesn't have the other additives products. Occasionally I'll drink a sugar soda.

To make your own microwave popcorn without all the crap, put 2 tbsp of kernels in a lunch sack, fold the top 3-4 times, and zap it old school - it's done when it takes more than a second between pops. As a bonus, it's uber-cheap that way. Spend the extra savings to ensure you're eating non-GMO kernels.

I'm all about eating real food: whole eggs, butter, olive oil, non-GMO veggies. GMOs are outlawed in over 30 European countries. If you have access to MEDLINE, do a search on GMO studies outside of the United States. Interesting information Monsanto is covering up in the United States.

All this said, I've noticed that chemicals & GMOs tend to be hot button subjects on MFP. Expect a few people to ridicule you and expect some to be extremist in their defense of foregoing those things in their own diets, most people fall somewhere inbetween. I figure we're all on MFP to try to make more concious decisions about what we are putting in our bodies; good for you for doing what you can to learn more about how these things affect your health.