Removing Chemicals from Diet
honeylissabee
Posts: 217 Member
A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
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Replies
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I don't know. My diet is 80% whole foods that I cook myself. Nothing packaged or processed. I did it in one go. It is the easiest way to do it. It's going to take a huge amount of mental energy to remove on type of adulterated foodstuff at a time.
The other 20% is eating out where I don't have control of what is in the food but I try to go places I feel won't be complete increased-shelf-life-chem-fests. Souplantation, chipotle, rubios, stuff like that.0 -
My advice is eliminate as many hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils from your diet as possible. It doesn't matter whether you can taste them, they raise your risk of disease.0
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The only way you are going to do that is by eating only fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats that are grown without hormones, etc.
Nearly everything has chemicals when it's made (well, if you broke down the ingredients of everything we eat and drink it is all chemicals). Research what the names on food labels mean. Not all colorings are chemical.... there is a version of red food coloring that is actually made from ground up beetles0 -
Easy.. buy whole fresh foods and learn to cook..
Check what you buy for pesticides and checmicals used while it was growing or being raised.
There ya go you've just eliminated most of it doing those 2 simple things.
I buy farm fresh veggies, from farmers.. and as chemcially free naturally raised meat as I can afford. (ever have unprocessed beef? It tastes totally different! So does bacon.. I don't like unprocessed bacon, that's one of the things I cave on. Not a huge beef fan either.. probably because i've had unprocessed beef and i know what it's supposed to taste like.. or so I tell myself. LOL Actually I grew up eating home raised meat, so a lot of the store bought stuff leaves me dissatisified.)0 -
Yep- make things yourself. I bake my own bread, make my own yogurt, nut butters, etc... The only way to really know what is in something is to prepare it with your own hands. As for items like eggs and meat- that's a bit harder. I know people who occasionally provide me with beef and eggs, but often I buy them from the store and read labels meticulously. Hope that helps. Good luck with these important steps towards better health!0
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pretty sure my diet is 100% chemicals...0
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A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.0 -
I am trying to reduce the chemicals in our food as well. I have not done everything all at once in terms of dumping everything that doesn't fit my rules, but when I buy new items I look even more carefully at the label. From what I have read/heard, eliminating HFCS and partially/hydrogenated oils is a good place to start. I know a lot of people here hate Dr. Oz, but when he wrote his book "You: On a Diet" he said to avoid foods with the following ingredients in the first five ingredients (salt, sugar, HFCS, partially and hydrogenated oils, white flour). I think that is a good place to start. I have also heard it recommended that if a food has more than five ingredients to be careful, and if you can't pronounce the ingredients to avoid the item.0
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hydrogenated oils are probably the most important to remove from a health standpoint. (My opinion, anyway).
I haven't had much trouble getting rid of them. It means cutting way back on packaged baked goods. I try to go by one of Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" -- "Its okay to have treats -- if you make them yourself."0 -
We do not eat anything with HFCS, hydrogenated oils, colorings/dyes, or nitrates/nitrites. Its really not that hard. Anything processed we just look on the label.0
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Dr Oz is a quack.. but even a quack can say somethign right sometimes..
white flour means it's been bleached.. so all the good stuff was removed, then it's been enriched.. which means they subbed chemicals to try to replace what they removed.. good idea huh..
it's not hard.. shop around the perimeter of the supermarket, go to farm markets and read the lables on any meat, if you can't afford to go to a butcher. If you buy an organic apple, put cinnamon on it and microwave it, you can be sure there is no added anything in your apple pie. Frozen veggies are better then canned by a long shot if you cant' afford fresh.
You can make your own granola bars too and they are way cheaper then buying them and you'll know whats in them. I make a ton of my own stuff and I am going to start making more.
pasta sauce.. super easy to make, and it keeps well when canned and stored properly. It's alot of money all at once, but then you don't hav to buy pasta sauce again for a long time and you've actually spent less then you would getting it a jar at a time.
I'm not broke.. i'm just cheap I hate spending money and shopping. So quick easy and cheap is what i look for. Same with cooking. Sauteeing is my best friend.0 -
I have also heard it recommended that if a food has more than five ingredients to be careful, and if you can't pronounce the ingredients to avoid the item.
This advice is spot-on. The best thing to do is read the labels, and if you don't know what an ingredient is, look it up. There are some great foods that come in boxes and cans and jars, just be sure to read the labels first. And of course fresh and organic is ideal, but not everyone can afford it. Frozen is better than canned. Also, don't give yourself an aneurism trying to be 100% chemical free. I tried that and became very depressed. The fact is, our world is full of chemicals. Even babies in the womb are swimming in 200+ foreign chemicals (Teflon, etc) because of our environment. So perhaps think of it as trying to AVOID chemicals rather than be 100% chem-free.
I've been making our own bread for the past few months, and it's super cheap and EASY. I let it rise once in the bowl and then put it in the baking pan to rise a second time. Here's another tip: make sure the water isn't too hot, or you'll kill the yeast and your bread won't rise. And don't accidentally use pastry flour. I found that out the hard way. You would never guess this bread was vegan. I keep it in the fridge because DH & I take a little over 1 week to eat one loaf.
http://www.veganbaking.net/breads-and-muffins/667-no-knead-whole-wheat-sandwich-bread#.US-yrVecySo0 -
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A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.
Yes, cause there's no chemicals in any other food. Have fun looking for those types of food0 -
I agree with everyone here, stop buying things that have labels and make your own foods.
It's funny in our house the processed foods I buy: bread, yogurt cups, breakfast cereal are almost all for my hubby. I rarely eat bread (maybe 4 slices a week at most) and don't really eat yogurt (if I do it's usually plain). If I have breakfast cereal I usually make my own hot cereal from oats or bulgur wheat. There are some things I will buy, like tortillas, but those I just buy with the least amount of ingredients I can find.
I often make "special breads" like cornbread muffins I made on Sunday but I should try making more of my own bread. Except hubby lives on bread and peanut butter so I'd have to make like two loaves a week at least, if not more, just for him!
Transition to a whole foods diet. You can do it quickly or slowly, whatever works for you.
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I was hoping to get in before the landmine of "everything is chemicals" crew ruins the thread.
But, i missed the bus, again.
Anyway, like others said, it's kind of easy. Just cook everything at home. Eliminate all processed foods, that includes processed startches, such as pasta and bread and rice. All refined sugar is out too. Anything processed, really. It's kind of simple, in concept. A little hard to execute at first, but it gets easy once you figure it out.
LOL0 -
If everyone would remove hydrogen, carbon and oxygen from their diet none of us would be fat.0
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pretty sure my diet is 100% chemicals...
^this
All food is 100% chemicals. Chemicals are also what makes up our body.0 -
I was hoping to get in before the landmine of "everything is chemicals" crew ruins the thread.
But, i missed the bus, again.
Anyway, like others said, it's kind of easy. Just cook everything at home. Eliminate all processed foods, that includes processed startches, such as pasta and bread and rice. All refined sugar is out too. Anything processed, really. It's kind of simple, in concept. A little hard to execute at first, but it gets easy once you figure it out.
The bus you missed must have been headed to chemistry class. :laugh:0 -
pretty sure my diet is 100% chemicals...
^this
All food is 100% chemicals. Chemicals are also what makes up our body.
You know what the OP is saying. Gosh, all of these smart alleck comments just ruin all the threads for people.0 -
A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.
Yes, cause there's no chemicals in any other food. Have fun looking for those types of food
That is not what I was saying and you know it. You know exactly what the OP is saying. She is trying to cut out the packaged, processed, nutrtionally void foods. Which is the response I gave was an exact answer to what she was asking.
Everyone that has to post the hateful, rude and smart alleck comments just post to attack people.0 -
I agree with everyone here, stop buying things that have labels and make your own foods.
I'm here and I don't agree. Most of my food has labels. If I avoided everything that had a label, I'd have to give up quinoa, brown rice, all frozen vegetables, many fresh vegetables, all condiments, all meat and fish, eggs, soy and almond milk, cottage cheese, tofu, protein powder, pasta, beans, spices, as well as many other healthy food staples.
I don't see the point in that. I'm intelligent enough to read a label and discern if a product fits into my goals.0 -
A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.
Yes, cause there's no chemicals in any other food. Have fun looking for those types of food
That is not what I was saying and you know it. You know exactly what the OP is saying. She is trying to cut out the packaged, processed, nutrtionally void foods. Which is the response I gave was an exact answer to what she was asking.
Everyone that has to post the hateful, rude and smart alleck comments just post to attack people.
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research0 -
A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.
Yes, cause there's no chemicals in any other food. Have fun looking for those types of food
That is not what I was saying and you know it. You know exactly what the OP is saying. She is trying to cut out the packaged, processed, nutrtionally void foods. Which is the response I gave was an exact answer to what she was asking.
Everyone that has to post the hateful, rude and smart alleck comments just post to attack people.
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research
I am not going to argue with you.
However, it is a shame that you have to be so smug that you just don't want to realize what the OP was saying. She gave specific items that she is tryingto eliminate and YES, my answer to her question was based on reading her entire post.
You and a couple of other people that are nothing but rude, smug, smart allecks are the reason why I barely post in the main forums any longer.
You say nothing of value to the conversations at hand, just post to create arguments and such. It is a shame. It shows the reality of the type of world we live in, which is a shame.0 -
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research
Did you seriously not realize she was talking about man-made chemical additives?0 -
A few years ago, I eliminated artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Equal, Sweet n Low, even Stevia/Truvia) from my diet due to a dislike of the taste and the fact that even in small amounts, they made me sick.
I gradually want to work on cleaning up my diet some more, but I don't know what I should focus on next. I know, ultimately, I want to remove hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and food dyes from my diet (as much as possible at least. I may treat myself to something with those on occasion.)
Which would be easiest to try to eliminate from my diet? And what are some things I should watch out for? It is easy to cut out artificial sweeteners when eating out. I just avoid foods labeled as "sugar free" or "no added sugar" and desserts that are "low carb." But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out. I can also taste when something is sweetened with Splenda. I can't taste HFCS or hydrogenated oils.
Stop buying things in packages and boxes and Problem solved, all of it.
Yes, cause there's no chemicals in any other food. Have fun looking for those types of food
That is not what I was saying and you know it. You know exactly what the OP is saying. She is trying to cut out the packaged, processed, nutrtionally void foods. Which is the response I gave was an exact answer to what she was asking.
Everyone that has to post the hateful, rude and smart alleck comments just post to attack people.
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research
I am not going to argue with you.
However, it is a shame that you have to be so smug that you just don't want to realize what the OP was saying. She gave specific items that she is tryingto eliminate and YES, my answer to her question was based on reading her entire post.
You and a couple of other people that are nothing but rude, smug, smart allecks are the reason why I barely post in the main forums any longer.
You say nothing of value to the conversations at hand, just post to create arguments and such. It is a shame. It shows the reality of the type of world we live in, which is a shame.
"But other chemicals aren't as easy to pick out." Super specific
She gave a list of some things she wanted to eliminate, but you are making the assumption that that was all she was trying to eliminate, which is not what she indicated in her thread title or in other parts of her post.
And making things up is super helpful, see "fermented tequila"0 -
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research
Did you seriously not realize she was talking about man-made chemical additives?
That would make the assumption on the intelligence on the avg poster here, and you've been around enough not to assume anything in regards to that0 -
Yes, the OP specifically asked how to remove chemicals from her diet. You gave a non helpful answer, since you suggested tons of chemical rich foods. If the OP doesn't realize what chemicals are and how wide ranging they are, maybe she should do some more research
Did you seriously not realize she was talking about man-made chemical additives?
That would make the assumption on the intelligence on the avg poster here, and you've been around enough not to assume anything in regards to that
Riiigggttt.
Actually I tend to assume average intelligence. If someone says "muscle weighs more than fat", I assume they don't have exactly 1 pound of each and are talking same volume. If someone says they are "turning fat into muscle", I assume they mean replacing fat with muscle (losing fat, gaining muscle). If someone says they want to avoid chemicals in food, I assume they mean added chemicals. Etc.0 -
I freeze vegetables, make my own pasta sauces, creole sauce and jams and jellies. Chutneys too. Salsa is super easy. Home canning is super easy with a small investment in equipment. Then you know exactly what goes into your food.0
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Actually I tend to assume average intelligence. If someone says "muscle weighs more than fat", I assume they don't have exactly 1 pound of each and are talking same volume. If someone says they are "turning fat into muscle", I assume they mean replacing fat with muscle (losing fat, gaining muscle). If someone says they want to avoid chemicals in food, I assume they mean added chemicals. Etc.
How do you manage to get into regular, meaningless arguments, then?0
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