willowhisp

In keeping with my current obsession, which is ridding my home of pre-packaged, over-processed foods, I offer this post dedicated to unpacking some of the ingredients commonly found in many store-bought, processed foods. I expect that you will be horrified.

Many of these "ingredients" have alias, so wherever possible I have tried to include a list of other common names.

Tartrazine, or FD&C yellow 5, E102 or C.I. 19140 - commonly used as a food colorant. Found in items such as those yummy addictive wasabi peas, but also found in ice cream and soft drinks, cereal, pre-made desserts, cosmetics, and pavements. Yes, you read that right. It is derived from coal tar. Yum. "Food" that contains this additive should be eaten by no one, but especially not by children. Known side-effects include "anxiety, migraines, asthma attacks, blurred vision, eczema, other skin rashes, thyroid cancer, Eosinophilia (increase in specific forms of white blood cells), clinical depression, ADHD or hyperactivity, hives, permanent DNA damage, heart palpitations, rhinitis, sleep disturbances/insomnia, general all-over weakness, hot flushes and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). In severe cases, anaphylactic-like reactions to tartrazine have also been reported. It is sometimes even fed to chickens to make their egg yolks more yellow and visually appealing.

Studies have also revealed that consuming tartrazine also aggravates and increases the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (a painful wrist condition which is caused by the compression of the median nerve, which passes between the ligaments and bones in the wrist). The reason for this aggravation is because tartrazine interferes with the metabolism of Vitamin B6 in the body. By eliminating tartrazine from the diet, it is possible to reduce and even prevent the occurrence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome."

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032169_tartrazine_food_colors.html#ixzz20TgqCfA8

Sodium Benzoate: common preservative found in all kinds of food items. Reportedly, Sodium Benzoate itself is relatively safe, but has been reported to cause these side effects:

"In certain individuals, nausea and vomiting may occur. In rare cases, sodium benzoate can irritate existing stomach ulcers and cause mild hyperventilation, possibly leading to dizziness and lightheadedness, according to the Hazardous Substances Data Bank of the National Library of Medicine."

However, Sodium Benzoate is rarely used on its own. It is most often used in combination with sodium phenylacetate. The combination of the two chemicals is often named Ucephan and Ammonul. The "acetate" part of this word should give away its status as something that should not be eaten. When these two compounds are combined, trouble brews: " headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, appetite loss and mood changes, reports MayoClinic.com. Confusion, muscle pain, fatigue, difficulty moving, shortness of breath, seizures and convulsions are also possible."

Additional problems with these two compounds include, "severe bruising, blood in the stools or urine, vomiting blood, difficulty breathing or changes in breathing patterns, drowsiness or unconsciousness. Additional rare side effects include muscle cramps, tremors, rash, restlessness and a feeling of tightness in the chest.... Additional severe side effects may result from the combination of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate, including severe headache, fainting, blurred vision, chest pains, slowed heartbeat, unresponsiveness and slurred speech. Several unusual side effects are also possible, including a blue coloring of the lips, skin or fingernails; changes in the perception of colors, particularly yellow and blue; or a bulging soft spot developing on the head of an infant given the medication."

Sulphites, sometimes known as, and no I'm not kidding,

E 220, E 221, E 222, E 223, E 224, E 225, E 226, E 227, E 228 (European names)
Potassium bisulphite/metabisulphite
Sodium bisulphite/dithionite/metabisulphite/sulphite
Sulfur dioxide
Sulphiting agents
Sulphurous acid

Sulphites rank in the top nine most common food allergens, and yet it is probably the most commonly used food preservative. Just about everything you buy that has been packaged will contain sulphites as a preservative.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

Flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin
Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
Trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
Anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness
Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
A drop in blood pressure, rapid heart beat, loss of consciousness

With exception to individuals with this sensitivity, or people who suffer from asthma, sulphites are considered safe for most people.

Nitrates/nitrites, or cultured celery extract: These should be avoided like the plague. They can be found in any, and all processed meats, including those that are marketed as "naturally cured" (these contain cultured celery extract, which is basically the same thing as nitrate). Nitrates and nitrites have been linked to, "an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes." Children and pregnant women in particular should avoid food containing nitrates, but basically the only people who should be consuming nitrates are those suffering from angina.

Monosodium glutamate, or

Glutamic acid (E 620)², Glutamate (E 620)

Monosodium glutamate (E 621)

Monopotassium glutamate (E 622)

Calcium glutamate (E 623)

Monoammonium glutamate (E 624)

Magnesium glutamate (E 625)

Natrium glutamate

Yeast extract

Anything “hydrolyzed”

Any “hydrolyzed protein”

Calcium caseinate, Sodium caseinate

Yeast food, Yeast nutrient

Autolyzed yeast

Gelatin

Textured protein

Soy protein, soy protein concentrate

Soy protein isolate

Whey protein, whey protein concentrate

Whey protein isolate

Anything “…protein”

Vetsin

Ajinomoto

There is far too much to say about MSG. Visit this comprehensive site for the low down.

here is a abridged version of adverse effects of MSG:

A burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest.
A numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back.
A tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms.
Facial pressure or tightness.
Chest pain.
Headache.
Nausea.
A rapid heartbeat.
Bronchospasm (difficulty breathing) in MSG-intolerant people with asthma.
Drowsiness.

Basically if you are eating food in a package, you will be consuming these food additives. Does that mean you should just accept the fact that these additives will be consumed? Absolutely not. Avoid processed and packaged foods altogether. You will feel better, you will be healthy, you will probably lose weight, and you will avoid the nasty short and long term dangers of these food additives.

Upcoming posts will offer suggestions about how to avoid these food additives by making stuff yourself.

xo Jo

As I was wandering around my yard, dead-heading flowers, pulling devious weeds, and just generally inspecting and enjoying my garden, I began thinking about what a wild crazy mix of colours I had going on in the garden. And what a good thing that it is too. It is a rainbow, and as nature would design it, they all work together in perfect harmony. The more colourful it is, the more the colours start to hum and resonate together. No wonder the rainbow has been used by so many people and groups to celebrate the essentiality of difference and variation as a key component to a harmonious society: gay pride groups, anti-racism groups, multi-culturalism-- basically anything that celebrates the spectrum of ways of being in the world

And hope. Of course there are Biblical roots the rainbow's significance for hope, but hope is also embodied in the calming harmonious nature of the rainbow's perfect spectrum.

So, here's to difference, variation, harmony and hope.