“I Want the Truth! You Can’t Handle the Truth.”

What’s causing this epidemic of obesity and disease? When will we stop blaming the victim? It’s high time we ‘call a spade a spade. It’s time to stop telling people to eat less, move more.  While that is sage advice, I will push back on that. ‘Push yourself away from the table.’ ‘Get up off your duff,’ we are told.  The data doesn’t match up.  People we regard as healthy are dying in their 40s and 50s. It’s One Stroke, One heart attack. How long had the cause of death been an underlying problem but able to manifest and be disguised as good health. The answer is complicated. I will not eliminate genetics, medical anomalies, and possible environmental exposures. But, ‘dag-nabbit’ (thanks PopPop), I think we are glossing over some obvious changes in our consumption of 21st Century food.  Food is our one common denominator. We have been eating ‘Fake Food,’ okay, that’s harsh. Processed is probably a better term. The definition is, according to ‘eat-right.org,’  Processed food” includes food that has been cooked, canned, frozen, packaged, or changed in nutritional composition with fortifying, preserving, or preparing in different ways. Feb 11, 2019. 

Do we see the results of additives, enhancers, and preservatives? I’m not a scientist, but I know too much of a good thing carries with it, help and harm. Where is the data for the long-term effects of these chemicals on humans [not animals]? Why is the food industry spending so much money trying to find ways to make food taste and look like the original by using artificial flavoring/colors? What was wrong with the Real thing? I don’t need a replica of the food.  Get those children out of the laboratory! Our lack of proper vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and fat determines our health markers. We are eating our way into bad Health.

It’s not just our caloric intake. Added salt, sugar, and refined carbohydrates have been dumped on the consuming public. If keeping the food Fresh raises my LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, why would I want that as a ‘trade-off’?  We have turned the health of our families over to an industry that sees ‘profit over people. In our haste to get to work on time, make it to the children’s after-school activities, plan the birthday, graduation parties, we (society) have dropped the ball. Food preparation has turned into unpacking, preservative-laden packaged food for ‘nuking’ in the microwave. Dinner is rolled out in Styrofoam containers or wrapped in paper or plastic. We have lost the fine art of reading and cooking, but not eating! ‘I’m Just Sayin’

In an article from CR-Consumer Report, “The Food and Drug Administration has made permanent a rule that allows food companies to add new ingredients to the food supply with almost no federal oversight. The rule is meant to guide companies seeking to classify new food ingredients as safe, or GRAS for “generally recognized as safe.” Hundreds of chemicals have been added since 1997″. You would have to be a pretty savvy shopper to keep up with the added ingredients lists. “A 2016 survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that the term GRAS can be misleading for consumers: 77 percent of respondents believed that ‘GRAS’ means the FDA has evaluated the ingredient and deemed it to be safe, and 66 percent believed that the agency monitors GRAS ingredients’ safety and use. Neither statement is true”. 

I realize that most of these chemicals are safe in small amounts. It has been reported that 80% of our food already has these chemicals. What are we to do? The GRAS chemicals are in the peanut butter, jelly, and Bread!

We are being taken for a ride and then blamed for our illnesses. We are buying the same or similarly familiar foods; but, now the food has added ingredients that we were not informed of, nor was the testing data on humans relatively available. I say we because 33% of Americans are Diabetic, 67% of us are Overweight. This ride is causing ill-health, disease, and death. Look, I want my food fast too, but I hadn’t planned for the ‘Trade-off’ to be my health and the health of my children and grandchildren, family and friends.

What to do Now? 

Ask questions; read the labels. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, leave them on the shelf! I trust and believe that the industry will come up with a solution. This multi-trillion dollar industry doesn’t want to lose a dime. Below is a short quiz and some ingredients I have seen.  The intention was to make the food taste better, enhance its look, and last longer on the shelf. The caveat is our health and will continue to lie in the balance.©

Check your Ingredient I.Q. ?  What is it, and what is it used for?  Fill in the Blanks

Additive: Disodium: phosphate, Inosinate, Guanylate also found with Autolyzed Yeast Extract, high in MSG, which is a similar food additive, along with hydrolyzed vegetable protein.
Found in?  _________________________________________

Food Coloring: Red dye #40, Blue #1 Yellow# 5
Found In? ______________________________________

Carrageenan’s possible dangers and side effects are usually found in coffee creamers and as a thickening, gelling, stabilizing, and suspending agent in water and milk systems.

·         inflammation.

·         bloating.

·         irritable bowel syndrome and IBD.

·         glucose intolerance.

·         colon cancer.

·         food allergies

What are the side effects of disodium phosphate?  Disodium phosphate is used in packaged foods, including macaroni and pasta. It’s also used in some cheeses as an emulsifier. June 20, 2017

Common side effects may include:

·         nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;

·         bone or joint pain;

·         headache, dizziness, tired feeling;

·         muscle pain or weakness;

·         increased thirst; or.

·         numbness or tingly feeling.

Go to the Source(s)

www.agargel.com.br/carrageenan.html

https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/gras-hidden-ingredients-in-your-food

https://www.healthline.com/health/is-disodium-phosphate-bad-for-you

https://www.npanational.org/regulatory/food-and…/generally-recognized-safe-gras

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/gras-substance

https://www.livestrong.com › Food and Drink › Diet and Nutrition › Food and Health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318630.php