POISON FOOD
Information on some of the various Chemicals and Additives that are put into the food we eat. It is important for everyone to be aware of these things, and to make an informed decision as to whether they want to consume it.
Hydrogenation is the process of heating oil and passing hydrogen bubbles through it. The fatty acids in the oil then acquire some of the hydrogen, which makes it denser. If you fully hydrogenate, you create a solid (a fat) out of the oil. But if you stop part way, you create semi-solid partially hydrogenated oil that has a consistency like butter, only it is a lot cheaper to produce. Partially hydrogenated oils contain high levels of trans fats. A trans fat is an otherwise normal fatty acid that has been "transmogrified", by high-heat processing. Trans fats are poisons, just like arsenic or cyanide. They interfere with the metabolic processes of life by taking the place of the natural substances that perform critical functions in the body. Our bodies have no defense against them, because we've never had the need or the opportunity to evolve a defense against them.
Very simply, here’s how it works. The body needs a certain amount of fatty acids to keep it functioning properly. Hunger is the means by which the body satisfies its need for these fatty acids. Unfortunately, the trans fats found in partially hydrogenated oil have only small quantities of essential fatty acids. So no matter how much of it you eat you remain hungry. This has been a wondrous discovery for the fast food industry that can produce food at reduced cost while at the same time keep people hungry and craving more of their product. But that isn’t the worst of it. Keeping you hungry so that you continue to eat is bad enough but partially hydrogenated oils also produce diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis and allergies that lead to arthritis over the long term because they interfere with the body's ability to ingest and utilize the good fats. Even worse, most partially hydrogenated oil is partially hydrogenated soybean oil. This is terrible because soybean oil depresses the thyroid, which lowers your energy levels and makes you feel less like exercising.
Along with partially hydrogenated oils, High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the major culprit in the present obesity crisis as well as the marked increase in gastro-intestinal problems in general. HFCS is very easy to produce which means lower costs and higher profits for food producers. Basically HFCS is produced by processing corn starch to yield glucose, and then processing the glucose to produce a high percentage of fructose. Fructose is the sugar found in fruit, so it sounds like it should be good for you. Fructose in fruit has natural fiber that feeds the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract, so they out-compete the harmful bacteria. However HFCS has much larger quantities of fructose than you could ever find in fruit, without the natural fiber that slows digestion and feeds the beneficial bacteria. With HFCS only the harmful bacteria gets fed and gastric distress is the inevitable result. Indigestion, acid reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome all become commonplace.
The body processes the fructose in HFCS differently than it does regular cane or beet sugar. The hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism are altered. Leptin and insulin are two hormones that the body produces to signal the brain to decrease the appetite and control body weight. Unfortunately while HFCS force more fat into the bloodstream via the liver; it does not stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin nor the body’s fat cells to produce leptin. At the same time HFCS does not suppress the production of ghrelin, a hormone that increases hunger and appetite. The end result is that the body is tricked into thinking it is still hungry even while it continues to store more fat.
(from www.msgtruth.org)
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a poison. MSG is toxic to everyone, at some dose. Those people who think that MSG doesn't bother them are wrong. Body processes are being disturbed. They have simply not made the connection between their occasional headaches and MSG.
MSG is a sodium salt of Glutamic Acid, an amino acid. It acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter. It basically causes the nerve cells to discharge an electrical impulse and that's the basis of its use as a flavor enhancer. MSG increases the flavor and aroma, and enhances acceptability of commercial food products. MSG suppresses undesirable or "off" flavors, bitterness, and sourness, and eliminates the "tinny" taste of canned foods. In addition, MSG has the ability to stimulate (and over stimulate) the appetite and it is used to create artificially overweight animals for lab studies and as a treatment for anorexia.
Some of the common reactive symptoms that you may experience from ingesting MSG are:
Headaches, migraines, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, upset stomach, asthmatic attacks, skin rashes, heart palpitations,anxiety or panic attacks, shortness of breath, balance problems, heart attack like symptoms, allergy type symptoms, flushing, mood swings, behavioral disorders (especially in children and teens) mental confusion, runny nose, bags under the eyes, urinary and prostate problems, partial paralysis, mouth lesions and depression.
MSG reactions are remarkably consistent. A person who reacts initially with a headache will continue to get headaches with repeated exposures.
The following is a partial list of the names in which MSG has been concealed, in order to be included in food without disclosure:
Accent
Ajinomoto
Autolyzed Yeast
Bouillon
Barley Malt
Broth
Calcium Caseinate
Sodium Caseinate
Flavorings
Malt Extract
Malt Flavoring
Natural Flavors
Natural Flavorings
Natural Beef Flavoring
Natural Pork Flavoring
Natural Chicken Flavoring
Natural Seasonings
Gourmet Powder
Glutavene
Glutacyl
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Kombo Extract
Mel-Jing
RL-5O
Textured Protein
Seasonings
Subu
Spices (sometimes)
The most common source is a frequently added product called "Natural Flavors". This product contains approximately 40% MSG. This is what we mean by hidden. You can read labels and think it is free of MSG, when in fact its part of the "Natural Flavors" additive. Mayonnaise and ketchup and many varieties of mustards contain Natural Flavors, as well as most packaged and canned foods, including even teas and diet foods, desserts, ice creams and cakes. Also avoid prepared drinks like Coke & Pepsi, Lemonade, etc, unless you read the labels. Even items in the health food stores must be checked, as well as diet foods, frozen foods, and fast foods.
Most commercial salad dressings, soup bases, and meat stocks have some form of it, as well as dairy products, sauces, seasoning mixtures, frozen foods, teas and all convenience foods.
Sodium benzoate derives from benzoic acid. It occurs naturally in berries, but is used in large quantities to prevent mould in soft drinks such as Sprite, Oasis and Dr Pepper. It is also added to pickles and sauces.
Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance.
Sodium Benzoate has the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it. Mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases.
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