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Processed Food: News Roundup

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

The health food nut's arch enemy has been in the news a lot lately. Yep, I am talking about processed food. In this day and age, with our busy lives, it is hard to live without some processed foods. Here are three news stories that might just sway us to make a little more time when it comes to food and nutrition.

A microwave popcorn enthusiast was diagnosed recently with "popcorn lung" - a rare life threatening disease with the medical name broncheolitis obliterans. The diagnosing doctor believes the onset was caused by inhaling fumes of the extra buttery flavored microwave popcorn that contains the chemical diacetyl, which has been linked previously to the disease. The man ate two, and sometimes three, bags of the popcorn daily!
Just a caution, especially if you are looking to sleep, citrus flavor sodas can have more caffeine than colas. The consumer groups involved in a recent study are not anti caffeine; they just think caffeine content should be listed in the packaging.
This really comes as no surprise, but a new British study found food additives may make children more hyper active. The culprit here is artificial food coloring and preservatives. Although the study was not conclusive and is being questioned by some experts, the U.K. Food Standards Agency, which funded the study, has already revised its advice to parents about what to feed their children.

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Do You Avoid Processed Foods?

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Salt is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of processed foods because so many of them contain high levels of sodium. This is one of the many reasons that I try to limit the amount of processed foods in my diet. And including more natural food just takes a little planning ahead - it doesn't get much simpler than throwing a banana or apple in your bag for an afternoon snack. What's your attitude toward processed foods?

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Don't Let Traveling Get You in a Bind

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.

For more helpful tips keep reading.

Deconstructing the Twinkie

FitSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Happy Birthday to the Twinkie, which turns 77 this year. I'll admit that growing up, I was a huge fan of this cream-filled spongy yellow cake, but I know now that it's made with a whole bunch of junk.

Steve Ettlinger saw the list of 39 ingredients and didn't think much of it until his daughter asked, "Daddy, what's Polysorbate 60?" So he set out to discover the answer and also figure out what all the other strangely named ingredients were, such as calcium sulfate and cellulose gum. On his journey, he found out some surprising news about the ingredients in tons of other processed foods, where they come from, how they're made, and why they're used. Ettlinger learned the number of ingredients in Twinkies that are more closely related to rocks and petroleum than to any major food groups! Gross. If you're curious to find out more details about the Twinkie and the weird ingredients in the foods you eat, he shares his findings in the book, Twinkie, Deconstructed ($19).

To see a video about Steve and what's in a Twinkie read more.

Another Reason to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup: Mercury

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

The Corn Refiners Association has been hard at work trying to change our perceptions about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), but they may have a new public relations battle on their hands. Two new US reports found mercury in both commercial samples of HFCS and products that listed high fructose corn syrup as the first or second ingredient.

Almost half the commercial samples of the corn sweetener tested positive for mercury, and almost a third of the tested food and beverage products contained detectable levels of the heavy metal as well. The products include beverages and foods manufactured by Quaker, Hershey's, Kraft, and Smucker's. The highest levels of mercury were detected in dairy beverages like chocolate milk, dressings, and condiments (BBQ sauce), followed by snacks and desserts, including cereal bars.

To see how mercury ended up in this corn-derived sweetener, read more.

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can lead to organ and heart damage, as well as impair the immune and nervous systems. While high mercury levels have been associated with eating too much of certain kinds of fish, like in Jeremy Piven's case, finding mercury in HFCS is a bit startling for the average consumer. The mercury found in HFCS is a byproduct of the caustic soda used, among other applications, to separate the starch from the corn kernel. While many processing plants that manufacture this industrial soda have altered their methods to eliminate the use of mercury, four plants in the US still employ the old mercury-based technology.

If you already avoid HFCS, this is no time to stop. Keep reading labels and be sure to visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to read their very detailed report on this matter.

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When to Buy Organic (and when not to)

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:15:00 -0800

Organic seems to be the way to go these days. Problem is, it's expensive. So what do we really need to buy that is organic?

Recently there was a great article in the Wall Street Journal detailing when it is a good idea to buy organic and when it is a good idea to save your money.

Worth it:

Apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes and carrots
Milk and dairy products
Meat and poultry
Baby food
Foods you eat a lot of

Not Worth it:

Broccoli, bananas, frozen sweet peas, frozen corn, asparagus, avocados, onions
Seafood
Some processed foods such as bread, chips, pasta, oils
Foods you eat only occasionally

5 Things About Salt

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Since the FDA is considering regulating sodium in processed foods, I have been hearing more and more about the reasons why. Here are five things to ponder about the sodium content in your diet.

Seventy-five percent of the salt we consume comes from processed food and food from restaurants, not from the salt shaker.
Your tongue cannot adequately discern how much salt is in your food. If the salt is on the surface of the food, like a potato chip, it will taste salty. However, when the sodium of a serving of frozen mac-n-cheese is 500 mg chances are your tongue will not register that this portion of food contains 25 percent of your RDI (recommended daily intake) of sodium. You really need to read the nutritional label on processed foods to know.
Processed foods in the US generally contain more sodium than the same product in the UK. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets is a great example – in the US they contain more than twice as much sodium as the United Kingdom version. Breakfast cereal is not exempt either – Kellogg’s Special K (advertised as "super healthy") has 58 percent more sodium per serving in the US version than the UK cereal.

There are two more reasons so read more

Not only does sodium content of specific products vary widely country to country, within the same type of product, like different types of canned tuna and corn chips, the sodium content can be drastically different. Once again I remind you to read the label.
Sodium is added to processed food to prevent it from spoiling. The salt draws moisture out of food so bacteria can't grow. It also helps to thicken soup and reduce dryness in crackers and pretzels.

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Limit Your Consumption of Red Meat, Reduce Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0700

By now, hopefully we all know that eating too much red meat is unhealthy. It can raise your cholesterol, lead to obesity, and put you at risk for heart problems. Now there's more bad news for red meat lovers: a large study found eating red and processed meat regularly leads to an increased risk of cancer.

In the 10-year study, 545,000 people were monitored based on their red meat consumption - some ate it every day, and others only ate five ounces a week. Men who ate a quarter-pound hamburger everyday (yikes) increased their risk of dying from cancer by 22 percent and their risk of dying from heart disease by 27 percent.

What about women? To find out read more.

For women, those who ate a ton of red meat increased their risk of dying from cancer by 20 percent and their risk of dying from heart disease by 50 percent - 50 percent ladies! That means it's absolutely crucial that people, especially women, limit their intake of red and processed meats such as steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, and cold cuts.

When it comes to getting protein, stick to healthier meats such as chicken and fish. Barry Popkin, director of the Interdisciplinary Obesity Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also says that limiting your meat consumption can have a positive effect on global warming. So it's good for you and good for the planet. If you're trying to eat lower on the food chain, check out these three cheap and natural meat substitutes.

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Two Healthy Flicks Now on DVD

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:19 -0800

You can give your next at home movie night a healthy focus; two of my favorite docs of the year are now out on DVD.

Enlighten Up!: Filmmaker Kate Churchill, a yoga devotee, takes yoga cynic Nick Rosen on a wild ride through the range of yoga styles to see if the ancient art has universal power. Both filmmaker and subject are affected by the process. Available for purchase ($22) or add the title to your Netflix queue.
Food, Inc.: The underbelly of the food industry is exposed in this documentary narrated by Omnivore's Dilemma author Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation. Arguing for sustainable food production, the film's antagonist is not the farmer or the carnivore but multinational corporation Monsanto. Purchase ($14) the 94-minute film or Netflix it.

Sodium & Blood Pressure: What's the Connection

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

We all know salt enhances the flavor of food, but too much sodium... well that is a different story all together. If you excessively salt your food, please read this post to learn some of the danger of sodium.

Sodium in small amounts is definitely essential since it:

Helps maintain the right balance of fluids in your body
Helps transmit nerve impulses
Influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles

Your kidneys help to regulate the sodium in your body. If levels are too low, your kidneys conserve sodium, and if levels are high, the sodium gets excreted in your urine. However, when your kidneys can't keep up with your sodium intake, the extra sodium starts to build up in your blood. Since sodium holds water, your blood volume increases, making it harder for your heart to move blood through your blood vessels. This in turn increases pressure in your arteries (high blood pressure), which can cause heart failure. That's an attention getter isn't it?

Do you know how much sodium is too much? To find out read more

The RDI of salt is no more than 6 grams a day, which is about 2,300 mg or 1 teaspoon. I'm not referring to the salt you add to your food, I'm talking about the total amount of salt per day.

Fit's Tip #1: Have your blood pressure checked. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less. When both numbers start to go way up, you've got high blood pressure.

Fit's Tip #2: If you're looking to reduce your salt intake, be wary of high-sodium foods like processed foods - chips, crackers, canned soups, and frozen meals often contain more sodium than you think. Also look out for lunch meats, bacon, condiments, and fast foods as these items often have an insane amount of sodium. Choose salt-free variations of the foods you love, and try to avoid adding salt to your food.

Fit's Tip #3: Exercising regularly, losing extra weight, and eating a healthy, low-sodium diet are great ways to get your blood pressure under control. If you've done all this and your blood pressure is still high, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it.

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