January 03, 2008
One could consider the fact that people are living longer a tremendous accomplishment, however, a longer life does not necessarily equate to a higher quality of life.
Over the next 10 years, the treatment of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer, to name a few, is being projected to be 30% of the GDP.
The root cause for the increase in the societal prominence of these diseases and conditions is related to diet and nutrition.
“What’s in a label?” is the title of a daily or weekly column related to the root cause for the increasing prominence of these diseases primarily in the United States.
The ingredient label lists all the different ingredients, chemicals, additives, and fillers used in the manufacturing and packaging of all products. The ingredients listed on the package provide the consumer with an idea of how and what was used in the manufacture of the product. The ingredient label is read by few and understood by fewer, however, the intention of the proposed column is to educate and inform the consumer, take the mystery out of the additives, and provide scientifically backed evidence of the additives and the effects of these additives on different body systems.
Each week a product will be selected and the ingredients listed. A clear definition will be given to each of the ingredients with a short description of the specific chemical or additive, plus the advantages or disadvantages of the additive. The consumer can then decide to purchase it or put it back on the shelf. If a healthier alternative is available, that too will be listed as a recommended substitute based on the ingredient label.
A weekly tip on subjects related to nutrition and lifestyle changes will be presented along with documented website addresses for further study or reference.
Doritos Cool Ranch Chips
Ingredients:
1. Whole Corn
2. Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: Corn, soybean, or sunflower oil).
3. Buttermilk Solids.
4. Salt. (Nondescript: Could be any type)
5. Tomato powder.
6. Partially hydrogenated soybean oil. (Linked to type 2 diabetes)
7. Corn syrup solids. (A sugar linked to diabetes and obesity)
8. Cornstarch.
9. Whey.
10. Onion powder.
11. Garlic powder.
12. Monosodium Glutamate MSG: Flavor enhancer E621*. WARNING: Neurotoxin linked to neurological disorders, heart irregularities, migraine headaches, seizures, stroke, etc. Should be avoided by infants and young children.
13. Cheddar Cheese: Milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes.
14. Nonfat milk solids.
15. Sugar: Undefined type/source.
16. Dextrose: Simple sugar, glucose chief source of energy.
17. Malic acid: Preservative E296*. WARNING: Should be avoided by infants and young children.
18. Sodium Caseinate: Emulsifier& Stabilizer E469* no animal origin, no known adverse affects. However, sodium Caseinate is derived from milk, so there must be an animal origin.
19. Sodium Acetate: Preservative E262* no animal origin, no known adverse affects. Made from mixing vinegar and baking soda.
20. Artificial color (including red 40, blue 1, yellow 5). FDA approved for food.
21. Spices.
22. Natural and artificial flavor.
23. Sodium Citrate: Acids, Antioxidants, Mineral Salts E331* no animal origin, no known adverse affects.
24. Disodium Inosinate: Flavor enhancer E631* animal origin. WARNING: May trigger gout, not permitted in foods for infants and young children. How many young children eat Doritos?
25. Disodium Guanylate: Flavor enhancer E627* animal origin. WARNING: May trigger gout, not permitted in foods for infants and young children. See #24 above.
26. Contains Milk Ingredients.
E numbers* are codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union.
Fritos Scoops Corn Chips
Ingredients:
1. Whole Corn.
2. Corn Oil.
3. Salt.
4. No Preservatives.
Twenty-six ingredients contained in the Cool Ranch Chips compared to the three ingredients in the Scoops Corn Chips is a big difference, however, the big difference is found in many of the manmade salts and sugar-type chemicals and ‘new’ inventions that have been added to help either make the product cheaper to produce, enhance the flavor, or adding a substitute ‘free radical’ (MSG) with another one that will cause long-term concern with proper function of multiple body systems including the brain.
The healthier you eat, the greater your long-term good health will be.
TIP: Partially hydrogenated soybean oil: “What’s wrong with Partially Hydrogenated Oils”was an article written by Eric Armstrong who has researched the subject in great detail. If interested, I will send you a copy. If you are overweight, this could be a good place to start; besides your heart and brain will thank you.
Steven Martin
