| Every day we are bombarded with information about | | | | only eaten occasionally. But, most tuna contains broth |
| food products that are healthy, all natural, have no | | | | or hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which contain MSG. |
| artificial ingredients, no preservatives, low fat, no fat, no | | | | And MSG is not required to be listed on the label |
| cholesterol, sugar free, vitamin fortified and provide | | | | because it is an ingredient in the broth, not directly |
| 100% of your daily vitamin requirements. Are these | | | | added to the tuna. This is the way food manufacturers |
| foods as healthy as the advertising tries to make us | | | | hide MSG in the food they produce. And hidden MSG |
| believe they are?Let's look at the facts. There are | | | | can be a very serious problem to those who are |
| more than 3000 different chemicals added to our food. | | | | sensitive to it. MSG can cause a wide variety of |
| The company that wants to produce the chemicals or | | | | symptoms including migraines, numbness and tingling, |
| use the chemicals in the foods they produce usually | | | | asthma, seizures, diarrhea, panic attacks and heart |
| does the testing for safety. Safety testing has only | | | | problems.Other sources of hidden MSG include |
| been done for individual additives, not for combinations | | | | autolyzed yeast, boullion, stock, malt extract, malt |
| of additives. Nobody knows the effects of the many | | | | flavoring, barley malt, maltodextrin, natural flavors, |
| different additives used in the thousands of different | | | | pectin, seasonings, carrageenan, soy sauce, soy |
| combinations. To make matters worse, because of | | | | protein, whey protein, anything enzyme modified, |
| political pressure, the FDA allows manufacturers to | | | | fermented, protein fortified, or ultrapasteurized, fast |
| add small amounts of cancer-causing substances to | | | | foods, chips, condiments, salad dressings, lunch meats, |
| our food. So, not only are many of our foods not | | | | sausages and soups. In fact, most processed foods |
| healthy, they're unsafe.The FDA has even approved, | | | | contain MSG according to Kathleen Schwartz of the |
| as safe, additives it has known to be unsafe. Take, for | | | | nonprofit group NoMSG.So, buyer beware! Even if the |
| example, Olestra, the fat substitute which was | | | | label says "all natural ingredients" and "no |
| approved by the FDA over the objections of many | | | | preservatives," the product could contain harmful |
| leading food scientists. Olestra can cause diarrhea, | | | | additives. So, how do you know which foods are really |
| abdominal cramping and may even contribute to | | | | safe to eat? You need to read the labels and know |
| cancer, heart disease and blindness. Foods containing | | | | how to interpret the information on the label.Here's a |
| Olestra must have a warning label on the | | | | few hints on what to eat and what to avoid: Eat fresh |
| package.Then there's the artificial sweetener | | | | fruits and vegetables, whole grains, good quality protein |
| aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet. Aspartame | | | | and healthy fats. Avoid these additives:Aspartame or |
| was approved and claimed safe by a specially | | | | Nutrasweet |
| appointed FDA Commissioner after his own Board of | | | | Saccharin |
| Inquiry that investigated aspartame claimed it unsafe. | | | | MSG and Free Glutamates |
| Aspartame can cause birth defects, central nervous | | | | Artificial colorings |
| system disturbances, menstrual difficulties, brain | | | | Nitrites and Nitrates |
| damage in phenylketonurics, seizures, death and a long | | | | Caffeine |
| list of other reactions too numerous to mention. It may | | | | BHA and BHT |
| cause irreversible health damage over the long | | | | Brominated vegetable oil or BVO |
| term.Fats are another story. A certain amount of the | | | | Olestra or Olean |
| right kind of fat is necessary for your nervous system, | | | | Sulfites Here's a general rule of thumb: If the list of |
| your immune system, the formation of cell membranes, | | | | ingredients is long, there are probably a lot of chemical |
| and the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. The | | | | additives in the product, and you're risking your health |
| problem is that over 90% of the food produced today | | | | by eating it. If the list of ingredients is short, it may or |
| contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, | | | | may not have harmful additives in it, so you need to |
| which contributes to heart disease, elevated | | | | read the label carefully before you purchase it.Dr. |
| cholesterol and triglycerides, non-insulin dependent | | | | Christine Farlow has made it easy for you to identify |
| diabetes and cancer. Research even shows an | | | | which additives are harmful and which are not. In her |
| association between attention deficit disorder and | | | | handy pocket-sized book, FOOD ADDITIVES: A |
| hydrogenated oils.The next time you grocery shop, | | | | Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not, now |
| look at the label of every item before you buy. Unless | | | | in its 2004 revised edition, she classifies 800 commonly |
| you already buy all organic and natural foods, almost | | | | used food additives according to safety, whether they |
| every item you pick up will contain hydrogenated or | | | | may cause allergic reactions and if they are Generally |
| partially hydrogenated oils. Instead, choose products | | | | Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. In just |
| that say no hydrogenated oils. Use raw organic butter | | | | seconds, you can find out if an additive in the food |
| instead of margarine, and extra virgin olive oil, coconut | | | | you're buying is harmful to your health. It's clear, concise |
| oil or flaxseed oil (flaxseed oil should never be | | | | and easy to use. Make this book your constant |
| heated).If you're eating more chicken, turkey and fish, | | | | grocery shopping companion and you'll never again |
| because it's healthier, you may be surprised to learn | | | | wonder about the safety of the ingredients listed on |
| that sliced chicken and turkey from the deli contains | | | | the package. You'll know.Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is |
| nitrites. And nitrites cause cancer. Nitrites are found in | | | | a chiropractor, nutritionist and author. She has helped |
| almost all processed meats, including luncheon meats, | | | | thousands improve their health through nutrition. For |
| hot dogs, sausages and bacon. Then there's tuna, a | | | | more information on food additives and healthy eating, |
| healthy choice if it only contains tuna and water and is | | | | visit Contact Dr. |