Food additives are everywhere; from the cereal we eat to the snack we grab on the go. While many are considered safe, others raise important questions about long-term health. I would like to help you understand how these substances interact with your body and help you make smarter, more confident food choices.
When God created the earth, he said it was good. From the beginning of time, up until the 1800s, there were no chemicals or additives in food. I don’t remember reading about so many illnesses, cancer and disease as we have today.
What Happened?
What did man do to change what God said was good? We decided that we didn’t want to work hard in the fields and use old methods in keeping crops healthy. We decided that we wanted to work easier and extend the life of our crops. We decided that we wanted more, and more. Man developed chemicals to use for other items and then decided that it will work in extending the life of food. All of which is, in God’s eye, sin. Why is it sin? Because what he provided wasn’t enough. We weren’t satisfied.
Every year, we create new methods of extending the life of food. Have you read the biblical account when God had the Israelites in the wilderness, and he provided mana for them daily? He told them not to save the mana overnight, but some disobeyed and found out that the mana was spoiled by the worms. Why? Because, God said he will provide mana every day. God wanted us to know that he will take care of our every need daily and he wanted us to have faith.
Man has decided that he knew better than God – man created pesticides and other chemicals to use on crops and in food. What have these chemicals done to us? They have brought all kinds of cancers, illnesses, disorders, inflammations and diseases. Hence, we have mana that has spoiled and has worms.
Also read Obesity Isn’t a Personal Failing – It’s a Classic Environmental Disease.
Let’s Discuss the Health Concerns
Chemicals and preservatives have been linked to health risks, especially when consumed frequently through processed foods. We eat these foods every day throughout our lives, that is, very frequent. Think of it as spending a lifetime ingesting these chemicals that contribute to chronic diseases, inflammation in the body, gut disorders, diabetes, heart disease, ADHD, hypersensitivity, allergic reactions, headaches, body aches, joint stiffness, and cancers. I’ve only listed just a few.
I’m going to call a spade a spade. We tend to downgrade words to make it more palatable for others to accept. Chemicals are chemicals, not additives or preservatives. Additives and preservatives are verbs that describe the action of chemicals. Chemical is a harsher word than preservatives and additives. When we use the exact word, it will promote awareness. When we downgrade the word to something more palatable, we ignore it.
Here’s one truth you won’t hear: not much food is natural or free of antibiotics or organic anymore. If the farmer has used chemicals on the grass, or purchased feed that contains chemicals, or used antibiotics to heal one of the animals, it is not natural or free of antibiotics or organic. The government has a rule on how you can market your product. If you want to know more research. Expand your mind.
Here are just a few chemicals that you can find in your food: nitrates, benzoates, aspartame, synthetic dyes, BVO, Propyl gallate, ADA, BHT Titanium Dioxide, BHA, Propyl paraben, Potassium Bromate and lots more. Below are two web sites that will provide more information of the chemicals in food and chemicals contained in everything we use in our lives.
FDA and Environmental Working Group
Helpful Hints to Mindful Eating
Take your time when ordering and purchasing food. Be mindful in reducing risks.
Reading Labels
A shorter list of ingredients means fewer chemicals were added. The first ingredient indicates the majority in that product and on with the next.
Choose Minimally Processed Foods
Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins typically do not contain additives. Be mindful and read.
Limit Processed Foods
Snacks, packaged meals, packaged meat, and sugary cereals contain multiple additives.
Know Your Food Sensitivities
If you notice reactions to certain foods or begin to have an ailment in your body, check for common culprits by keeping a journal of what you are eating.
My practice focuses on helping you reach your wellness goal whether it is improving your health or managing your overall life. I bring with me over 40 years of nursing to my wellness practice.
Many foods can wreak havoc on the body. For more information on mindful eating, visit my website or call me.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you know what’s in your food? How often do you read labels? Have you researched the numerous chemicals in packaged foods and how they affect your health?
