Dangerous Food Additives (Part 2)

After reading research around food additives, the forces of fate conspired to deliver a sticky chocolate mud-cake muffin on my first day back at the coal-face! It was some solace to “let me eat cake” as compensation for having to front up to work after the Xmas break.

The delicious smell permeated my senses. I just wanted to hoover it up and hide the evil evidence of my wicked ways! As I frantically started to peel the cupcake paper off – some got stuck and so did I. All the stuff I’d been writing about toxic food additives loomed large in my psyche. The green and red ink printed on the cupcake paper would not come off – bits were left behind much to my frustration.

Was this Destiny? Forcing me to make the ultimate choice – the cake or the health standards I am trying so desperately to live by. It doesn’t get any tougher than this folks….I knew eating those coloured cupcake paper fragments would undo all the “clean” eating I had done for a week.

Conveniently, I have a fall back position. I’m not god – although some say I do have godlike qualities, (yeah right!).  So in accepting my mere mortal status, I forced it all hurriedly down my throat. Speed to digest should minimize any internal damage – right? The result. FANTASTIC. I will be working my laptop for a straight 8 hours without a break after that dioxin laced hit! As for the guilt – go to hell I say – this muffin crossed my path. It was Fate. Karma. Whatchamacallit …. and it was Oscar Wilde that said the only thing he couldn’t resist was temptation! What a genius!

However, in the cold light of day, I realised I had promised to impart more on the BAD food additives in this blog. So this continues from my previous blog by the same name (Part 1), with a focus this time on more cancer causing additives which are best to avoid in any foods…..(not to mention the horrors in soaps or cleaning agents). A rule of thumb – avoid anything with benzoic/benzoate and paraben in the chemical name. This can also apply to most things with sulphite or nitrite on the labels too.

Have a look at the backs of packet food and instant food in particular and you’ll often see these chemicals lurking in the fine print.

142 Green S (colour) contributes to hyperactivity, asthma and allergies and is carcinogenic (cancer causing) Found in beverages and food.

150Cc and 150d Caramel (colouring) hyperactivity, inhibits the metabolism of vitamin B6 – serious doubts currently exist around its safety. Found in various beers and wines, cigarettes and cosmetics.

210 Benzoic acid (preservative) Asthma, skin and eye irritations, behavioral problems, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid.

211 Sodium Benzoate (preservative) same as above

212 Potassium Benzoate (preservative) same as above but found in jams, preserves, chili paste, icings, coconut milk, glace cherries etc.

213 Calcium Benzoate (preservative) same as above

216 Proylparaben or Propul-p-hydroxy-benzoate (preservative – part of the dangerous paraben family of toxins) Similar conditions as above and is found in a wide range of foods and shampoos, skin lotions, soaps, foundation creams and baby preparations.

319 tert-Butylhydroquione (and similar looking “Buthyl” names) are all dangerous antioxidants, found in edible oils, emulsions, fortified wines, cosmetics, etc.

Now back to my toxic rich chocolate muffin – a little bad now and again has got to be OK! But eat it before you do a Google search for dangerous food additives! I make sure I take my daily health supplements and a brisk walk, to compensate for my misdeeds, so my shiny halo of good health is maintained!

Dangerous Food Additives (Part 1)

Nothing beats fresh fruit and vegies to improve your health

I always advise people to “read the labels” which would be OK if we could understand them!

Some Food additives contribute to food safety, like acidity regulators, which prevent food from spoiling. Other additives occur naturally, like Vitamin C for instance which often acts as a preservative. But there are many additives that are seriously worth avoiding so here are a few key ones to watch out for. Keep these handy when you go shopping – never mind the calories – make sure you aren’t putting any of these things into your body and you will naturally improve your digestion!

Food Additives have a code number and these start at 100 and go to 1521. As a rule of thumb if the list of ingredients on any food label is lengthy you can bet dollars to proverbial bull dust – that the product contains chemicals and toxins.

Here are some obvious ones to watch out for and are regarded as dangerous:

Colour in Food:

102  Tartrazine

110  Sunset Yellow (FCF), found in jelly beans, smarties, cheese spreads, cream cheeses, custards, often with 102. Check the additives in the wide range of gravies and sauces too.

120  Carmines or Carminic Acid or Cochineal (red colour)

123  Amaranth – banned in USA and Russia

124  Ponceau (4R)

Others that are known to have caused health disturbances such as:

Intestinal Disorders – these are all preservatives

220  Sulphur Dioxide

221  Sodium Sulphite

222  Sodium Bisulphite

223  Sodium Metabisulphite

224  Potassium Metabisulphite

Digestive Problems

338 Phosphoric Acid (acidity regulators)

339 Sodium Phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabilizer)

340 Potassium Phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabilizer)

341 Calcium Phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabilizer, anti-caking agent)

450 Potassium Pyrophosphate or Sodium acid pyrophosphate or Sodium pyrophosphate (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabilizer)

461 Methyl Cellulose (thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer)

465 Methyl Ethyl Cellulose (thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer, foaming agent)

466 Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (thickener, stabilizer)

There are a few others worth mentioning too – so will do that in my next Blog. Both articles will be helpful in determining what to avoid. To make this more pragmatic please copy and paste the list – edit what you don’t want and keep it handy for your next supermarket visit.

It’s always best to eat nutritious fresh food and try good quality health supplements, if you suffer with a vitamin absorption problem or vitamin deficiency and feel you are operating under par. See http://www.healthscript.co.nz/vitamins-supplements/VitaminGuide.aspx for more details around health supplements that work!  In Part 2 of this discussion I will be talking about additives that affect the nervous system and others that are carcinogenic.

Does Vitamin Deficiency Let You Down?

Feeling under par and want to get your Mojo back? Sometimes it’s as simple as getting a good night’s sleep. But as we age we can suffer with vitamin deficiencies because our body is not as effective at absorbing critical nutrients from our food.

So health supplements are a good way of boosting your energy levels by taking in the missing minerals. A good quality multi-vitamin can make all the difference and this was one of the key motivators for the all Kiwi family-owned business Health Script, to develop the AM PM Dual Pack. With more antioxidants than most leading brands in its mineral rich formula, this product has been a real hit with most people, boosting their energy and supporting a good night’s sleep.

Health Script’s key focus is on providing premium, expertly formulated health vitamins. Customer research shows a real demand for high quality, safe and effective NZ made health supplements. Everything in the Health Script range is manufactured in NZ including the bottles, labels and high quality contents, so you aren’t paying for expensive foreign freight and exchange rates.

There’s one interesting difference, the top quality, easy to swallow, casings of the capsules are imported from USA as nobody in NZ makes them. Most natural health retailers consider VegeCapsules to be superior to standard gelatin versions. It’s beneficial for consumers to digest vegetable cellulose rather than cows hooves, which make up more than 90% of the market.

Health Script delivers top quality health supplements

 

Health Script uses VegeCapsules – a real point of difference to ensure they are completely free of animal products. In fact Health Script supplements are gluten, dairy, bee product, nut, soy, wheat, and corn free with no colourants, preservatives or additives. What you put in your mouth is specifically designed to improve your overall health. Because they ensure careful combing of critical minerals and antioxidants in their superior formulations, Health Script’s vitamins are some of the best health supplements available, with a focus on healthy aging.

Health Script’s supplements are made to the highest quality standards under strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines, which is audited and certified by Medsafe (part of the Ministry Of Health). Every ingredient is independently tested to guarantee its quality and purity.

Health Script recently launched its third health supplement in as many months, with its new JointFX vitamins. While there are other products that say they assist bone and muscle health, Nicky Webber, General Manager of Health Script says, ”JointFX offers the best of both worlds. It blends ancient remedies within a modern vitamin formula to deliver the best results. Our regular online customer feedback it testimony to our product’s effectiveness.”

There is substantial research and evidence of the excellent anti-inflammatory response to Tumeric and Ginger for joint and muscle health. “Not many people realize that Ginger has analgesic properties similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, without the side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and constipation,” she explains.

Health Script also included the effective supplements of MSM and Glucosamine to ensure modern vitamin health in JointFX. “We wanted connective tissue and cartilage regeneration and to reduce inflammation and improve mobility too.”

Boron is part of the formula, which improves the metabolism of other nutrients like Vitamin D and stimulates the absorption of Calcium. Copper is the final mineral added to the new JointFX, which supports the production of collagen.

See www.healthscript.co.nz for regular updates and information on every ingredient in their online Vitamin Guide. Health Script also welcomes customer feedback at info@healthscript.co.nz

Good NEWS

We’ve had some questions from our customers regarding allergic reactions to certain product ranges.

AM PM Dual Pack has no allergens

Health Script’s AM Feel Alive and  PM Relax & Sleep formulas are presented in vegetarian capsules containing NO preservatives, additives or colourants. They are also definitely soy and dairy free – but also free from corn, wheat, egg, bee products, and nuts.

We have ensured quality every step of the way and our products are manufactured to the highest GMP (good manufacturing practice) here in New Zealand.