I have been writing about the benefits of eating organic food for months. I have focused on why this food is so essential to a healthy life and how it makes us shine inside and out. One thing I haven’t focused on is why their daily non-organic food is so BAD for our health. I decided to connect and check the ingredients that can be found in the foods that many people consume on a daily basis. It is more important than you think to read the ingredients in your food. Chances are, if you can’t read the label, you probably shouldn’t eat it. Here are some examples of popular foods and products along with their amazing ingredients. This is sure to make even the most skeptical think more about switching to pure organic food. Remember, you can feel comfortable that the food you are eating is safe when you switch to organic and you don’t need a chemistry course to translate the ingredients.
Chewing gum, instant coffee, tea, pudding, gelatin desserts, non-dairy creamers
All of the above could contain an additive known as acesulfame K that caused cancer in laboratory animal tests. This is an artificial sweetener better known as “Sweet-One” or “Sunette”. Aspartame is also known to cause mental retardation if phenylalanine reaches a toxic level in the blood.
Bread, canned / bottled beverages, crackers, cereals, butter, potato flakes, shortening, condiments, soup bases, candy, pet food, baked goods and much more …
The above contain BHT and BHA, antioxidant chemicals that are used as preservatives in foods that contain fats and oils. They prevent fat from rusting and turning rancid. These chemicals could contribute to the development of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the state of California have publicly recognized BHA as a possible carcinogen.
Meat
Nitrite and sodium nitrate are found in meat to preserve freshness. Meat that contains these chemicals can greatly contribute to disease when cooked at high temperatures. Nitrate turns into nitrite, which in turn turns into nitrosamines when it fuses with other compounds under high temperatures and this can cause cancer.
Chips and other snacks: Jif peanut butter, Tide detergent, Crest toothpaste, Folgers coffee
Always check the ingredients! Olestra can be found in the foods and products mentioned above. Would you jump off a cliff if your friends told you? Then you should also say no if they offer you something that contains Olestra. This disgusting additive is used as a fat replacement and is terrible for your health. It causes diarrhea because it binds to all of the essential vitamins and minerals in your body that are used to help protect you from cancer, heart disease, and blindness. Once it has attached itself to its vital nutrients, it removes them. As if this were not enough, Olestra is the gift that continues to give as it also inhibits your body’s ability to absorb more vitamins. Talk about getting malnourished overnight!
Fruits and vegetables, juice, soybean oil, sugar, meat, including chicken, beef, and pork
I can’t stress enough how important it is to buy organic to avoid pesticides. Pesticides build up in your system and are toxic. They prevent your body from releasing waste and block the absorption of nutrients. Many say there is possibly a link between pesticides and the increase in autism cases that have occurred in recent years.
Brand Quorn and some other meat substitutes:
This product contains mycoprotein, which may seem healthy, but it is not. It is mold. That’s right, mold with added chemicals to make it look and taste like meat! The creators claim that it is a fungal product, but it is actually mold that is grown in large tanks of liquid. They glamorize it a bit by saying that it undergoes “fermentation.” Seriously, who in their right mind would even consider turning this poultry product into “food”, regardless of selling it for a profit? If you want real protein without meat, organic beans are a great option. There is a great variety and many different ways to prepare them.
soda
I define soda as liquid waste. Soda may taste interesting, but is it so good that we have to risk our lives to drink it? It is almost unnatural, and high fructose corn syrup rots our teeth. Many soda brands contain baking soda and citric acid (not the natural kind found in fruit, etc.). These chemicals together can become carcinogens under heat or light. I think I’ll keep the water.
I saved the best for last …
Propylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol can be found in …
Cosmetics, Food seasonings, Lotions, Hand sanitizer, Hair color, Massage oils, Gel and hairspray, Popcorn, Deodorant, Mouthwash, Medicines, Lubricants, Baby wipes, Toothpaste, Pet food , Salad Dressing, Cake Mixes, Soda, Sour Cream, and Fat Free Ice Cream.
These chemicals contribute to the following:
- Sterility
- Birth defects
- Nervous degeneration
- Heart problems
- Brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities
- Metabolic problems
Propylene glycol is also used in antifreeze, electronic smoke machines, hydraulic fluid, and as a solvent for pills (mainly diazepam).
So why go organic? I think the question here is, why not?
Learn more about the value of organic food on these television networks:
- Food Revolution on ABC Fridays at 9:00 pm EST
- Future Food at Planet Green Tuesdays at 10:00 pm EST