Ingredients to Watch Out For
If you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t want to put it in your body. You were meant to eat simple foods: spinach, carrots, apple instead of monohydroxsodium aspartate (I just made that up). If it sounds like a chemical, it probably is and does not belong in your body.
High-fructose corn syrup: Corn and syrup are two easily pronounced, natural sounding words can’t be that bad, right? In fact, many believe HCFS is the most significant factor in the rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the United States. HCFS is an artificial sweetener derived from corn. It is highly processed, and contains high levels of fructose, which may result in liver damage, and it rapidly raises blood sugar. Recently, the Corn Refiners Association, have pushed to be able to label HCFS merely as “corn sugar.” If you see this on a label, it’s just HCFS trying to sound more natural. Remember though that agave has more fructose though than HFCS! Check ingredient labels and avoid “health” or raw foods that contain agave, which is certainly not a health food you want to be ingesting.
Sugar: A label may come straight out and say it contains sugar, or it may use all kinds of clever names including sucrose, fructose, glucose solids, barley malt, corn syrup solids, dehydrated cane juice, cane juice, refiners syrup, maltodextrin, caramel, fruit juice, dextrose, and many others.
Artificial sweeteners: These are chemicals, some of which are neurotoxic. Look for names like aspartame, NutraSweet, sucralose, Equal, Splenda, saccharin, acesulfame-K, acesulfame potassium, and neotame.
Monosodium glutamate: Another neurotoxin, monosodium glutamate or MSG is added as a flavor enhancer. Avoid it at all costs, or anything containing free glutamate. It may also appear on labels as hydrolyzed protein, glutamic acid, glutamate, monopotassium glutamate, calcium glutamate, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, textured protein, soy protein, whey protein, calcium caseinate, and sodium caseinate.
Artificial anything: Simply put, these are chemicals. Avoid foods that call out artificial colors or flavors. It may also be listed as “(color) dye # (number).”
Sodium nitrate or nitrite: Nitrates and nitrites may increase risk of pancreatic cancer, according to the National Institute of Health. Nitrates are found in processed meats.
**Want to learn more? Please contact me to schedule a wellness session or grocery store tour at the local store where you shop! 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com
Copyright, 2018, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
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