“What is Your Vitamin Really?
Most vitamins in supplements are petroleum extracts, coal tar derivatives, and chemically processed sugar (plus sometimes industrially processed fish oils), with other acids and industrial chemicals (such as formaldehyde) used to process them [1-5]. Synthetic vitamins were originally developed because they cost less [7]. Assuming the non-food product does not contain fish oils, most synthetic, petroleum-derived, supplements will call their products ‘vegetarian’, not because they are from plants, but because they are not from animals. Most vitamins in vitamin supplements made from food are in foods such as acerola cherries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lemons, limes, nutritional yeast, oranges, and rice bran (some companies also use animal products).” ~ Robert Thiel, PhD, Naturopath.
The industrialized world has changed the way we view, interact and connect with food. Much of that which gives us sustenance is commercially produced. The larger the corporation the more cost effective measures are in place to increase the bottom line. One way to increase bottom line is to increase shelf life. Increased shelf life means that the product lasts longer, has increased visibility, offers convenience and the product is viewed as useful and trustworthy. Despite these ‘values’ of commercial food the quality of ingredients used is severely compromised. Indeed, commercial packaged food is a way of moving further and further away from real food. It is what I call ‘pseudo food’. Food that may taste good because of taste enhancers, food that is labeled as providing the recommended daily allowances of essential ingredients of life is filled with more harm than good.
Why would you care about this? Well think about it like this. Our bodies carry us through life. They allow us to move through space and time. They allow us to interact with reality around us and they allow us to experience life. What does this have to do with an ingredients label. Remember that everything that you put into your mouth, on your skin and breath is used by the body to create the very cells, tissue, organs and systems that sustain your life. In other words, you are what you eat. Your body does it’s best to use what is available to it to maintain life. We have forgotten the importance of food - whole food. We have been duped into believing that chemical ingredients, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, heavy metals and the like are perfectly healthy and contribute to good health. I wonder why the rates cancer and chronic disease are increasing exponentially?
To explore this further, today I am going to show what to look for and give you a few tips about reading ingredients labels so you know what you are eating and putting into your body.
Do not fall for the hype on the front of the packaging. Here is why…..
Studies show that food packaging color influences consumer behavior - and the giant processed food makers know this! Color is one of the most important part of any packaged brand along with the healthful statements of the product inside. According to studies consumers will make a subconscious judgement about a product in less than 90 seconds. Most interestingly, these judgements were found to be based on the color of the packaging rather than based on the product statements alone. Manufacturers will employ highly skilled designers to create an enticing packaging brand that appeals to the target market.
Let’s look at some of the colors and the psychological and emotional states they are said to elicit:-
Red - excites and stimulates. It heightens nerve impulses and increases heart rate. It enhances appetite - McDonald’s anyone? Red is also used to depict sweetness which appeals to most of the population.
Yellow - it is one of the fastest colors processed by the brain. It grabs attention. It is also an appetite enhancer and brings a sense of cheerfulness. Studies suggest that the color yellow increases serotonin - the happy neurotransmitter! McDonald’s has this color in their logo too.
Orange - Provides a feeling that the product within is appetizing. Often the color orange is correlated with fruit (oranges etc). It is also suggested that orange is the color of affordability and appeals to portray a product has value.
Blue - Is actually related to a loss of appetite so is used much less in packaging of food and drink. It is related to trust, honesty and dependability. It is related to the idea of water and is often used in the bottled water industry.
Green - Is associated with good health, natural, organic or vegetarian.
White - Is usually incorporated into a label and brings the concept of purity, honesty and transparency to the branding of the product.
Black - Was rarely used in the past, but works tremendously well for luxury goods.
Let’s look at some of the wording on the front of packaged food….
Natural - When you see this on the front of any packaging, it really has no meaning. According to the FDA there is no regulation for labeling a food as natural. The FDA defines ‘natural’ as that which does not contain added colors artificial flavors or other synthetic substances.
Natural and artificial flavors - Regardless of what it may sound like both natural and artificial flavors are made in a laboratory. For example, the coconut flavor has nothing to do with coconuts at all but is derived from the bark of a tree in Malaysia.
Organic - organic doesn’t tell you much about what is in the product at all. It does not mean they do not use pesticides - it just means that some pesticides will not be used. USDA organic is the only label that can be called organic.
Whole grain - this is very misleading. When reading an ingredients label you know that what comes first is what there is more of in the product. So say sugar is first and whole grain is sixth - this means there is little whole grain at all!
Flavored - often when you see the words ‘natural flavor’ this flavor is anything but natural. It is laboratory made and is a chemical. Here is a rarely used but still manufactured artificial vanilla flavor - castoreum. Castoreum is made from the castor sacs at the tail of the beaver close to the anal glands. Yes it has been used as an additive for vanilla flavor in baked good, frozen diary treats and puddings. Just another delightful additional from the science of manufactured food.
Nectar - just another name for sugar.
Good source of fiber - this doesn’t mean anything because there may be a high amounts of sugar or salt in the products - it is not healthy.
Cholesterol free - any and all products that are not animal derived are cholesterol free this is just manufacturing companies trying to make health conscious individuals buy their products.
Fat free - this really doesn’t tell you anything - for example, PAM and I can’t believe it’s not butter spray say they are fat free. This is only when they are used in minuscule amounts!
Sugar free - This just means that the product is free of sucrose not the sugar alcohols that are found in carbohydrates, therefore, most products with this label are not sugar free.
Trademarks - when you see a trademark you can bet that the company has manipulated or created this particular ingredient in the lab. Look at Danone for example they are the only ones that are able to use the bacteria name bifidus regularis - because they made it in the lab.
Health claims - foods are not, according to the FDA, able to cure diseases hence any product that claims they have a wonder drug should be looked at with skepticism.
But it is not only these that we have to watch out for there is a myriad of other chemicals and preservatives (including colorings) that we are to be aware of and avoid, here are a few:-
GMO
It is hard to find out whether foods are GMO. The Non-GMO project is one website (https://www.nongmoproject.org) that can give some idea about products that are GMO. Here are a few pointers:-
Amino acids, aspartame, ascorbic acid (it’s derived from corn which is usually GMO), citric acid, lactic acid, maltodextrins (GMO - corn derivative), molasses, MSG (monosodium glutamate), sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein (TVP), Xanthan gum, vitamins and yeast products.
Hydrogenated Oils
This is used in supplements, processed foods and baking products. It is made by reacting vegetable oil with hydrogen. This process reduces polyunsaturated oils and trans fats are formed. An example is hydrogenated soy bean oil and is used as a filler in vitamins. Hydrogenated oils have a role in cardiovascular problems, nervous system problems, diabetes and blocks the absorption of essential fatty acids.
Artificial colors
They are added to supplements and foods for appeal to the consumer. Many of these are derived from toxic coal tar that are used in paints and roofing. These have been linked to autism, ADHD and cancer.
Magnesium stearate
It is a lubricant in vitamins to prevent pills and capsules from sticking to machinery. These lower the immune system.
Titanium oxide
It is used as a cosmetic filler. It is listed as a carcinogen and is linked to allergies, auto immune disorder and organ toxicity.
Carrageenan
It is a toxic filler and found in many supplements and food products including milk chocolate, milk products, frozen dinner, soups, yoghurt and ice cream. It is derived from red seaweed and linked to cancer, GI problems, inflammation and leaky gut.
Heavy metals (lead, fluoride, aluminum and arsenic)
Many detox products, protein shakes, cosmetics, processed foods and supplements contain heavy metals. Aluminum is well known to exist in many detoxification products. Aluminum, lead and arsenic predominant in herbs imported from China (including powdered amino acids from China). Green Tea is well known to be contaminated with high levels of fluoride.
Acrylamides
These are created when high carbohydrate foods are cooked, roasted, grilled at high temperatures. They are found in grains and potatoes and it is a cancerous neurotoxic chemical linked to ovarian and breast cancer. Real, whole food vitamin C has been known to block the effects of acrylamide. So if you have fries or potato chips have fruits and vegetable high in vitamin C to reduce the effects acrylamides.
Sodium benzoate and BHT
These are carcinogenic preservatives added to soft drinks, processed foods and supplements. This is done to keep these fresh and thus have a longer shelf life. These ingredients damage human DNA and cause gastric and bladder cancer, and liver problems.
Cupric sulfate and boric acid
These ingredients are used in the highest selling supplements that cause DNA damage and even birth defects. They have been linked to inflammation, depression and headaches.
Often products are fortified with vitamins and minerals. This applies to animal foods as well. All of them are synthetic and made in the lab. Indeed, they are isolated using solvents - many of the solvents used are petroleum based (even coal tar is used). You can imagine that these solvents are still a part of the vitamins produced. So what are you really putting into your bodies?
References
www.hartdesign.com
http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/11-packaged-food-words-to-beware/
http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/04/what-is-the-difference-between-natural-and-artificial-flavors.html
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2016/12/01/myth-busting-on-pesticides-despite-demonization-organic-farmers-widely-use-them/
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=9874504b6f1025eb0e6b67cadf9d3b40&rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthyeating/11446470/Food-labels-why-low-fat-and-fat-free-dont-mean-healthy.html
http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/toxic-chemicals-gmo-ingredients-in-nutritional-supplements.php
http://www.doctorsresearch.com/articles4.html
https://www.nongmoproject.org