Are you concerned with what's in your food other than calories?
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Are you concerned with what's in your food other than calories?
Nope.
Well, OK, that said ... I do try to avoid foods with peanuts, mushrooms, and green peppers.1 -
Feeling better is anecdotal though. I feel better when I pet a dog, or do a good deed or win money in the lotto. Doesn't mean it's improved my mental statis or actually helped my metabolism.LannyMixon wrote: »
For 90%+ of the population you probably don't see any adverse reactions to any of these additives, I never did persnoally but I can tell you this I feel better, even before I began losing weight, since we removed many of the processed foods and thus the additives from our diets.
While it's important to know what you may have a physical reaction to, just thinking you'll have a reaction can paralyze you to possibly trying new foods. You do realize that even many "whole" foods on the market have dye in them to make them more appealing to buy?
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LannyMixon wrote: »
I don't think that you were doing any fear-mongering, but an awful lot of threads that start the way yours did end up with a lot of fear-mongering based on some blog that somebody found on the interwebs... and we tend to get a lot of them here...0 -
I try to keep my macros in balance. I also have to avoid Red 40 and asparatame, since both are migraine triggers for me. So, I read labels to make sure those things aren't in anything I'm going to eat.
Other than that... I don't worry too much about chemicals in my food. Most aren't in there in amounts great enough to do harm to the average person. Others... once you find out what the "chemical" is, you learn it's a vitamin or some other equally innocuous thing that's actually good for you - or, at least, not bad.0 -
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Edit- posted in wrong thread.0 -
LannyMixon wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »What sorts of sites did you find your "research" on? Sites with peer reviewed scientific studies with well documented research that considered context and dosage in humans when discussing these ingredients?
My research began with my then kindergartner was having severe behaviour problems in school. We have since found out that he has a sever allergic reaction to a number of petrochemicals that you find in many common foods, dyes are some of them he also has reactions to TBHQ which is a petrochemical used to preserve anything from cereal to milk to cooking oil. He also reacts to BHA and BHT. These are clinical diagnosis not some blog entry.
We no longer have behavioural issues at school and he is a straight A student.
The problem is that since these additives are considered "preservatives" they are not required by the FDA to be individually listed on packaging. This is what began our search to find out what is really in our foods.
Much of the research we did came from the Mayo Clinic, The Center for Science and Public Interest as well as National Library of Medicine. The WHO also has some pretty extensive research on those preservatives. I could go on and list you a lot more sources. I get it I was the skeptical one in our family before I saw the positive results we had removing these additives from our kids diet.
Because of the difficulty finding what folds and brands use these chemicals and a couple of other issue, we pretty much subscribe to the Feingold Diet program.
For 90%+ of the population you probably don't see any adverse reactions to any of these additives, I never did persnoally but I can tell you this I feel better, even before I began losing weight, since we removed many of the processed foods and thus the additives from our diets.
I share your concerns; but you will get no sympathy (and probably more than a little hostility) trying to discuss this topic on these boards.
I am glad you were able to find a solution to your son's issues before they tried to address them with unnecessary medication.4 -
Yes but that's because I'm vegetarian and people like to sneak fish or other junk in food. Just the other day I read the ingredients for a pizza that looked vegetarian, and it had fish ingredients...likely as preservatives. Pretty gross. It's also in most orange juice.0
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LannyMixon wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »What sorts of sites did you find your "research" on? Sites with peer reviewed scientific studies with well documented research that considered context and dosage in humans when discussing these ingredients?
My research began with my then kindergartner was having severe behaviour problems in school. We have since found out that he has a sever allergic reaction to a number of petrochemicals that you find in many common foods, dyes are some of them he also has reactions to TBHQ which is a petrochemical used to preserve anything from cereal to milk to cooking oil. He also reacts to BHA and BHT. These are clinical diagnosis not some blog entry.
We no longer have behavioural issues at school and he is a straight A student.
The problem is that since these additives are considered "preservatives" they are not required by the FDA to be individually listed on packaging. This is what began our search to find out what is really in our foods.
Much of the research we did came from the Mayo Clinic, The Center for Science and Public Interest as well as National Library of Medicine. The WHO also has some pretty extensive research on those preservatives. I could go on and list you a lot more sources. I get it I was the skeptical one in our family before I saw the positive results we had removing these additives from our kids diet.
Because of the difficulty finding what folds and brands use these chemicals and a couple of other issue, we pretty much subscribe to the Feingold Diet program.
For 90%+ of the population you probably don't see any adverse reactions to any of these additives, I never did persnoally but I can tell you this I feel better, even before I began losing weight, since we removed many of the processed foods and thus the additives from our diets.
How awful for you and your family! But way to go with the detective work to find out if it was environmental. It must be awesome to see your kid thriving now
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Alatariel75 wrote: »Ethanol is a petrochemical. That's just booze.
Ethanol is not made from the refining of petroleum or natural gas. It's made from the fermentation of sugars by yeast.
The ethanol found in your fuel tank, which may be the source of your confusion, is largely made from corn. At least in the US as there are other food based sources used to produce it as well. One of the reasons people object to the use of ethanol to run cars is because of the fear the fuel industry could become a direct competitor with the food industry for these raw ingredients, hiking the price of all corn/sorghum/etceteras (including that for human consumption).
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LannyMixon wrote: »
I don't think that you were doing any fear-mongering, but an awful lot of threads that start the way yours did end up with a lot of fear-mongering based on some blog that somebody found on the interwebs... and we tend to get a lot of them here...
Don't worry this thread has taught me a whole lot....1 -
I care about the macros in the foods I eat, yeah. And also the vitamins and minerals. Makes a big difference in how I feel.0
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Yes, in a way. I have always avoided partially hydrogenated oils; margarine and shortening. Real butter for us, and liquid oils. Not to the point where I will refuse a slice of someone's grandmother's pie, or ask what she used in the crust, but I don't buy it, I read labels and didn't buy tortillas for years because I couldn't find any without the shortening.
That's about it. Partially Hydrogenated Fats.2 -
as long as it's delicious and doesn't have mushrooms, olives, or most seafood in it, I'm good0
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I do care about what I eat as losing weight isn't my only goal, so I like to try get lots of nutrients into my diet and eat from all the food groups. I do worry about the chemicals that are added but there's nothing really I can do about that other than growing/making all my own food which I just couldn't do, so try not to think about it too much. Luckily I don't have any allergies or intolerances to foods so don't need to worry about that.0
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Only if its a waiter's thumb or something worse...
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There are some things I avoid just cause I can. I no longer eat cheese with cellulose added to it. Why? Cause I don't want to. Plain and simple. I don't want to eat wood chips, cheese don't need them and neither do I.0
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I often wonder why why some food additives are deemed safe in some countries and completely banned in others..
Australia being one of the strictest. Around 10 years ago i placed a huge order from America of foods not available here, including dog foods/treats.
Long story short i received a letter from customs.
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
What an expensive and infuriating experience that was!! I received a couple of things, but the rest was destroyed :sad:1 -
I'm more concerned about the way I store my foods.1
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Simple way to help avoid unknown things: use ingredients like you do a food pyramid. Whole, naturally grown (like in your garden) foods-eat the most of. Minimally processed foods-ok, but don't base your whole diet off of it if you can help it. High- processed/chemical laden foods should be rarely consumed (have any of them actually been GOOD for anyone?) for good measure.1
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Yes, I have been concerned! But I have also given up, because it is so overwhelming. I eat mainly fresh stuff (which guarantees nothing), but for the last couple weeks or so, I've been eating garbage -- packaged mashed potatoes, a particular canned soup I like, powdered milk . . . .
Also, I have primary biliary cholangitis (PBC; an inherited disease that develops into full-blown cirrhosis in stage 4). It is not from drinking alcohol; purely inherited. They say. But sometimes, I wonder if I developed it because of something I ate, drank, breathed. Why did I get it and not some of my siblings.
My reality is that I have given up and just eat mainly the best I can. When I do eat packaged foods, I do avoid ingredients that are not kosher, like Red 40, which is in an amazing LOT of stuff. (My husband found it in white liquid Pina Colada mix the other day! And it is in almost all chocolate/fudge foods.)0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »I often wonder why why some food additives are deemed safe in some countries and completely banned in others..
Australia being one of the strictest. Around 10 years ago i placed a huge order from America of foods not available here, including dog foods/treats.
Long story short i received a letter from customs.
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
What an expensive and infuriating experience that was!! I received a couple of things, but the rest was destroyed :sad:
I had the same sort of experience when I lived in Canada. Everyone on a cycling forum was talking about a particular energy drink that was supposed to be The Thing To Use on long bicycle rides. And it came from a reputable company, not some dodgy organisation.
So I ordered some ...
Nope. Not allowed in Canada.
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Christine_72 wrote: »I often wonder why why some food additives are deemed safe in some countries and completely banned in others..
Australia being one of the strictest. Around 10 years ago i placed a huge order from America of foods not available here, including dog foods/treats.
Long story short i received a letter from customs.
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
What an expensive and infuriating experience that was!! I received a couple of things, but the rest was destroyed :sad:
I had the same sort of experience when I lived in Canada. Everyone on a cycling forum was talking about a particular energy drink that was supposed to be The Thing To Use on long bicycle rides. And it came from a reputable company, not some dodgy organisation.
So I ordered some ...
Nope. Not allowed in Canada.
It's a bloody horrible feeling. I was so looking forward to my delivery only to receive that stupid customs letter! If i remember correctly it was around $600 up in smoke, literally..0 -
Yeah, I'm concerned if there is a hair in my soup (or worse) at a restaurant...Simple way to help avoid unknown things: use ingredients like you do a food pyramid. Whole, naturally grown (like in your garden) foods-eat the most of. Minimally processed foods-ok, but don't base your whole diet off of it if you can help it. High- processed/chemical laden foods should be rarely consumed (have any of them actually been GOOD for anyone?) for good measure.
I include the bolded in my diet. My recent blood tests are perfect, and I've lost 90lbs. I'd be sad without my chocolate/ice cream/diet soda/chips.
Chemical laden.... What chemicals? I guess you avoid Dihydrogen monoxide?kommodevaran wrote: »LannyMixon wrote: »OK folks I won't bring it up again, certainly not my place to tell anyone what you should and shouldn't eat.
Letting go of the "should and shouldn't eat"s is one of the main reasons behind the majority of MFPers' success.
Amen to that.3 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »I often wonder why why some food additives are deemed safe in some countries and completely banned in others..
Australia being one of the strictest. Around 10 years ago i placed a huge order from America of foods not available here, including dog foods/treats.
Long story short i received a letter from customs.
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
What an expensive and infuriating experience that was!! I received a couple of things, but the rest was destroyed :sad:
I had the same sort of experience when I lived in Canada. Everyone on a cycling forum was talking about a particular energy drink that was supposed to be The Thing To Use on long bicycle rides. And it came from a reputable company, not some dodgy organisation.
So I ordered some ...
Nope. Not allowed in Canada.
It's a bloody horrible feeling. I was so looking forward to my delivery only to receive that stupid customs letter! If i remember correctly it was around $600 up in smoke, literally..
That is bad!
I think mine was only about $100, but still ... so disappointing.
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to me its one of those things i just try not to get too invested in. I do my best to eat a wide verity of food both "healthy" both processed full of "bad stuff". If i worried about every little thing i probably wouldnt eat food, bathe in my dirty San Diego water, have a hospital grade air filter, and never go into public. Gotta pick my battles of what i should or shouldnt stress about.0
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I'm writing this a bit off the cuff but I am interested in the developing area of gut health or "the brain in the belly" as it often referred to. I think this newly developing area is quite fascinating and am looking forward to more research coming out about how processed foods and preservatives affect gut health and any links to adverse health, obesity or disease. So yes, to some extent I am interested in what is in my food (apart from calories, macros and micros which interest me very much). To this point in time I haven't altered my behaviour substantially as a result but do aim to eat a mostly minimally processed whole food diet anyway.0
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High- processed/chemical laden foods should be rarely consumed (have any of them actually been GOOD for anyone?) for good measure.
My understanding is that vitamin and mineral fortification of processed foods has more or less put an end to malnutrition in the developed world, outside of willfully poor diets or abject poverty.
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High- processed/chemical laden foods should be rarely consumed (have any of them actually been GOOD for anyone?) for good measure.
My understanding is that vitamin and mineral fortification of processed foods has more or less put an end to malnutrition in the developed world, outside of willfully poor diets or abject poverty.
This reminds me...
The added folic acid in my processed breakfast cereal helped prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects when I was pregnant. It is also found in enriched breads, pasta, and rice according to the CDC.
Iodine added to table salt helps prevent thyroid disorders, as referenced by the Mayo clinic.
And let's not forget, the ubiquitous flouride in water helping prevent tooth decay.2 -
Flouride added to water will start a whole new different debate
http://fluoridealert.org/articles/50-reasons/0
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