Organic Shelf Products

In the first post of this series, I talked about organic produce. Now, I'll delve into organic shelf products.

Organic shelf products (boxed goods, jarred items, chips, etc.) typically contain only a fraction of the ingredients of their conventional counterparts. In fact, there are literally thousands of chemicals and preservatives that, by law, do not have to be listed on the label!

Fancy that... there are chemicals in your food that our wonderful government does not require food manufacturers to list on the label.

(Gasp!) Imagine the surprise of the American people.


(Blank stare.)

Anyway, it obviously it goes without saying that my first choice when purchasing shelf products is always organic. But when the product you're looking for is not available in organic, or, if it is too costly, use these tips to help you make your selections.

My first recommendation to those who buy the food for their families is this: do not make your final decision to purchase a product based on what the manufacturer says about the product on the front of the package. This is where the food manufacturer advertises its product. Instead, read the ingredient list on the side or back of the package to make your decision.

The three ingredients that I run from like the plague are the following:

1. Propylene Glycol: Propylene Glycol is a liquid ingredient used in hydraulic fluids, antifreeze, and as a solvent, paint, floor wax, pet foods, laundry detergents, baby wipes, cosmetics and toiletries, and... yep, you guessed, it: processed foods!

In addition to being a known carcinogen (don't these food manufacturers have any shame?!?), propylene glycol also causes kidney damage, liver abnormalities, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues (and not only farting, but much, much worse!).

I remember reading the label on a package of deli donuts a while back, and propylene glycol was listed among the ingredients. Needless to say, I put them back. And these weren't even from a big-name food manufacturer. They were baked in the grocery store's deli.

The enemy is everywhere, people.

Beware. (*eye twitches*)


2. MSG or Monosodium Glutamate: When you see MSG on an ingredient list, think neurotoxin. Think Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gherig's disease, and the like. Think skull and crossbones.

MSG is classified as an excitotoxin. In short, it attacks the brain and nervous system.

The thing that really gets my knickers in a bunch concerning MSG is the fact that food manufacturers have lobbied (read: paid off) politicians for the right to list MSG under pseudenoms, so that the careful shopper will not recognize it. MSG is also listed on food labels as "Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein," "natural flavoring," and "spice."

"Poison" would be more accurate.

3. Hydrogenated/Partially Hydrogenated Oils: I posted about these oils once before, but they are so harmful that the warning bears repeating. Hydrogenated oils attack the walls of your arteries, cause heart disease, damage the kidneys, gallbladder, liver, spleen, and other major organs.

But what exactly is a hydrogenated oil? It's a liquid fat that is injected with hydrogen gas in order to make it a solid at room temperature. So it's not a naturally occurring fat, as such. Margarine and shortening are examples of hydrogenated oils.

You'll often see hydrogenated oils classified as "Trans Fat." And, get this: a product can be advertised to contain "No Trans Fat" if it has a half a gram or less per serving. So, again, don't let the hype on the front of the package be your deciding factor. Read the ingredient list and check for the words "hydrogenated oil" or "partially hydrogenated oil."

And if you see these words, leave it on the shelf.

Well, these are just three of the chemical additives that I look for when buying groceries for the people I love and cherish and care for. There are other things to watch out for when buying food, but I'll leave those for another time. Avoiding the above 3 ingredients is a great place for you to start if you want to serve healthier food to your family.

Sources

Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About, Kevin Trudeau

The Maker's Diet, Jordan Rubin


Relevant links
WeBeFit.com
MSG - The Slow Poisoning of America