12 Dangerous and Hidden Food Ingredients in Seemingly Healthy Foods
Would you eat your favorite breakfast cereal if you knew that it contained Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), a product also used in jet fuel and embalming fluid? Can you imagine grilling your low fat veggie burger if you found out that its main ingredient is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?
Watch out, because foods that are considered “healthy” and labeled as “natural” contain many harmful chemicals used as food preservatives and flavor enhancers – and these chemicals are often disguised under unrecognizable names.
Today, I’ll expose the hidden dangerous food additives that are lurking in so-called “healthy” foods, how you can easily spot them and the simple and delicious alternatives that won’t sabotage your bone and overall health.
Unhealthy processed foods greatly outnumber unadulterated healthy foods
In the last 100 years the food industry has advanced by leaps and bounds. Today, more than three quarters of supermarket shelves are stocked with packaged and processed foods. These boxed, canned, and frozen concoctions in most cases only require boiling or microwaving to become edible.
In total, there are more than 3,000 food chemicals purposely added to our food supply, yet avoiding them is a lot easier and more economical than you might think.
You probably already know this, but the rule of thumb is that the best foods to conquer osteoporosis and to stay healthy are unprocessed natural foods. That’s because man-made chemicals acidify your body pH which in turn accelerates bone loss.
Back to basics is best for your bone health
We can all agree that scientific progress is a good thing, especially when it comes to innovations that make our life easier and more enjoyable. But advances in the food industry are hindering our efforts to stay healthy because thousands of chemicals have entered the food supply.
At the beginning of the food processing revolution, which began soon after World War II, manufacturers did not bother to hide the newly added synthetically made food additives. After all, the perception was that as women joined the workforce, their available time for cooking would be greatly diminished, and that most everyone would quickly adopt the newly invented convenience foods. So like a tsunami thunderously ravaging the shoreline, the convenience food industry has flooded grocery stores with their processed products.
As a result, foods have become so industrially processed that in some cases they could be easily labeled as “edible food-like substances” – a synthetic man-made product – rather than actual nourishing food.
Adding insult to injury, many staple foods such as potatoes and corn – often used as basic ingredients in a host of products – have their genetic makeup purposely tampered with and may be dangerous to your health.
Convenience foods hurt more than help
Ample research on the evolutionary process of humans and their nutritional requirements point to the clear fact that while our nutrition has radically changed since Paleolithic times, our biology really hasn’t. But along came agriculture and later on the Industrial Revolution and with it, man-made chemicals made their way into our dining rooms.
Fortunately, as is the case with most deceptions, educated consumers are now seeking alternatives to these chemical laden products in turn forcing food producers to get creative… That is why more often than not, food chemicals are renamed with less “synthetic names” than their older original ones.
I want you to be aware of this very important health issue, so we’ll explore together the 12 most dangerous commonly used food additives that can sabotage both your bone health and your general health. One important comment here: remember that ingredients on product packaging are listed according to quantity; the ingredient making up the largest quantity is listed first, and so on.
So now…
Let’s analyze a “healthy” breakfast cereal
Antioxidants protect cells from oxidative damage and some of them are proven potent bone protectors as well. So isn’t it a great idea to have your morning breakfast cereal with healthy antioxidants? Not so fast… Let’s take a look at the ingredients of Kellogg’s® Smart Start® Strong Heart Antioxidants:
Rice, whole grain wheat, sugar, oat clusters, sugar, toasted oats [rolled oats, sugar, canola oil with tbhq and citric acid to preserve freshness, molasses, honey, bht for freshness, soy lecithin], wheat flakes, crisp rice [rice, sugar, malt, salt], corn syrup, polydextrose, honey, cinnamon, BHT [preservative], artificial vanilla flavor, high fructose corn syrup, salt, honey, malt flavoring, alpha tocopherol acetate [vitamin E], niacinamide, zinc oxide, reduced iron, sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium pantothenate, Yellow #5, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), BHT (preservative), vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, beta carotene (a source of vitamin A), vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Worst offenders:
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene): this common additive used to prevent oxidation in a wide variety of foods and cosmetics is listed by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in 2005 as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” on the basis of experimental findings in animals. It is also used in jet fuels, rubber petroleum products, transformer oil and embalming fluid. As if this were not enough, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) warns that BHT should not be allowed to enter the environment, can cause liver damage, and is harmful to aquatic organisms.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Loaded with “unbound” fructose and glucose molecules, studies have shown that the reactive carbonyl molecules can cause tissue damage that may lead to obesity, diabetes, and also heart disease. So much for this “Strong Heart Antioxidants” cereal recipe! HFCS is made from genetically modified corn and processed with genetically modified enzymes. To make matters worse, studies have recently revealed that nearly half of tested samples of HFCS contained mercury.
Yellow #5: Almost all colorants approved for use in food are derived from coal tar and may contain up tp 10ppm of lead and arsenic. Also, and not surprisingly, most coal tar colors could potentially cause cancer.
Healthy replacements
I love starting my day with an antioxidant-rich breakfast complete with natural granola and fresh fruits sprinkled with slivered almonds, flax, and pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. Try it with your favorite milk substitute, and if you have a sweet tooth, use a little honey. I’m quite sure you’ll love it too. There are also many tasty varieties of boxed cereals that truly contain all-natural ingredients – just read the label and avoid synthetic ingredients including the ones listed above.
Are you ready for lunch?
You know that you can never go wrong with a salad to start your lunch with, so you pick your favorite bone-healthy alkalizing vegetables and all you have to do is pour some delicious dressing. Add a few crispy nuts and seeds and voila! You’ve got yourself a healthy lunch. But your choice of salad dressing can ruin your intentions… Let’s take a look at one of the most popular salad dressings, Kraft’s Creamy Italian dressing:
Water, soybean oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, contains less than 2% of garlic*, xanthan gum, citric acid, propylene glycol alginate, onions*, polysorbate 60, spice, red bell peppers*, garlic, phosphoric acid, parsley*, vitamin E, natural flavor. *dried
Worst offenders:
Soybean oil: More than half of all soybeans crops grown in the US are genetically-modified (GMO) representing a meteoric rise since 1996, when only 7% were GMO soybeans. Genetically modified crops not only pose environmental dangers. There is a growing concern (and mounting scientific evidence) that genetic engineering of food plant seeds may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health.
Propylene glycol alginate (E405): this food thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier is derived from alginic acid esterified and combined with propylene glycol. Bear in mind that even though propylene glycol is used as a food additive, it has many industrial uses including automotive antifreezes and airport runway de-icers.
Polysorbate 60: short for polyoxyethylene-(20)- sorbitan monostearate this emulsifier is widely used in the food industry. Made of made of corn, palm oil and petroleum, this gooey mix can’t spoil, so it often replaces dairy products in baked goods and other liquid products.
Healthy replacements
While some commercially made salad dressings really may have natural ingredients (make sure you read the labels), try to stick to basics and use olive oil with lemon juice as often as possible. Olive oil, is in fact a fruit juice and contains long chain unsaturated fatty acids that alkalize your body’s pH. You can also make your own salad dressing at home using wholesome natural ingredients.
An afternoon snack to energize your day
A couple of hours after lunch, you might crave a little pick-me-up snack. A few pretzels might just hit the spot, right? But not so fast… Take a look at the list of ingredients in a bag of fat free Rold Gold® Pretzels, the number one brand in the US:
Worst offenders:
Enriched flour: these pretzels are made with enriched flour. But don’t let the attractive description mislead you: like most highly processed foods, enriched flour is devoid of nutrients and more often than not it is also bleached. Since the wheat germ and bran are removed from this type of flour, the body treats it as a refined starch.
But it doesn’t end here. The “enrichment” itself is made using toxic ingredients. For example, iron is added back into enriched flour. Unfortunately, food makers use a metallic form of iron that your body can barely absorb and should not be ingested. Watch the shocking video below:
Healthy Replacements
It has fortunately become quite easy to replace enriched flour with healthy alternatives, especially with whole wheat flour. But don’t forget that there are other options that can add variety to your meals such as rye, quinoa, millet, and brown rice flour and sprouted grain products.
I like to snack on alkalizing fruits, whether dried or fresh, and sometimes add a few nuts such as almonds or walnuts and some sesame seeds that are naturally high in calcium. Dried fruits mixed with nuts are easy to carry around so you can have a bone-healthy snack anytime of the day.
It’s time for dinner now
As the day is winding down, you are looking forward to a nutritious and substantial dinner. You might choose what you think is a healthier lower fat alternative to beef, such as the Morningstar Farms® Grillers® Vegan Veggie Burgers. Take a look at the ingredients:
Water, textured soy protein concentrate, corn oil, contains two percent or less of autolyzed yeast extract, vegetable gum, natural flavors from vegetable sources, maltodextrin, soy fiber, salt, carrageenan, potato starch, onion powder, caramel color, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, konjac flour, sunflower oil, sesame seed oil, soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), concentrated onion juice, ascorbic acid, vinegar powder, citric acid, aspartic acid, modified corn starch, malic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, wheat flour, soy lecithin.
Worst Offenders:
Textured soy protein concentrate, carrageenan, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, modified cornstarch: All of these are basically different names to hide ingredients that either contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or form MSG during processing.
It is very important for your bone health and your overall health that you avoid these acidifying chemicals that can cause a variety of undesirable side effects, besides accelerate your bone loss. MSG and its related products have been linked skin rashes, nausea, migraine headaches, heart irregularities, and even seizures.
Healthy Replacements:
If you are following the Save Our Bones Program you know that you have a very wide choice of foods to create delicious and bone-smart meals. The Program reveals an easy to follow pH balanced nutrition plan among many other things, and the best part is that you are in complete control of the huge number of combinations possible from the alkalizing and acidifying lists.
While beef is acidifying, you can build your dinner around a beef hamburger instead of the chemical meat replacement example above. I recommend you combine it with bone-healthy alkalizing vegetables and other alkalizing foods to balance your dinner.
If you opt not have meat, the good news is that many grocery stores carry all natural vegetable imitation meat patties – just make sure they don’t contain the aforementioned ingredients.
Your health is in your hands
As you can see, it is easy to make the healthy food choices that will bring back or retain your bone density and your general health. I hope that after you read this article you will pay even more attention to the ingredient labels in the foods you buy. This may sound daunting, but it’s really a lot easier than it sounds.
Simply try to eat foods in the most unadulterated “original” format as often as possible. And here’s a shortcut, any food packaging that has a long list of ingredients with names that sound like they’re from a distant planet is not the kind of food you want to eat. For strong and healthy bones, eat foods with a short and easy to recognize list of ingredients.
Do you have any thoughts on this? Share them with our community by leaving your comment below.
If you liked this article, click the "Like" button for Facebook:
Why Suffer? Start Increasing Your Bone Density Naturally Now!
If you want to accelerate your bone building results with an easy to understand resource that reveals exactly what I and thousands of others in our community did to increase our bone density naturally, then you absolutely have to check out the Save Our Bones Program.
It's filled with breakthrough, 'take-you-by-the-hand', nutritional, exercise, and lifestyle information that is proven to increase bone density naturally. The ‘Actions!’ at the end of the chapters outline exactly what to do and are all backed by over 100 scientific sources.
Related Articles
5 Bone-Healthy Nutrients in this One Delicious Seed
Eat This Uniquely Bone-Healthy Green Food
The Tiny Food With Big Bone-Building Benefits
Shock Study: Link Between Deer Antlers and Osteoporosis Discovered
Six Bone Healthy Nutrients in Every Bite
The Amazing Drinkable Flower That Lowers Stress and Builds Your Bones
We value your privacy and will never share your information with anyone.
May 2, 2012
quote:
Textured soy protein concentrate, carrageenan, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, modified cornstarch: All of these are basically different names to hide ingredients that either contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or form MSG during processing.
textured soy protein is an additive in some meats and also used as a meat replacement. carrageenan is a red algae from europe. the natural form is ok, but there is a bad form as well. These products have nothing to do with msg. Disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are products that enhance the effect of msg and usually indicate that msg is present. Where are you getting msg from textured soy protein, carrageenan, and modified cornstarch?
April 4, 2012
I’m doing better since I’ve been reading your emails.Learning about food, My pain has gone to about 50% less than what it was before. Thank You very Much. Mary
April 2, 2012
Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your publish is simply spectacular and that i can suppose you are an expert in this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to keep up to date with approaching post. Thank you a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
March 24, 2012
Yes, I agree. It’s almost impossible to find processed foods without a long list of ingredients never before heard of. What the medical profession and the drug lords may or may not know, is that these food additives are most likely responsible for the illnesses that are rampant in today’s society, and hardly ever heard of a few generations ago. I am guilty of using the so-called “convenience foods”, as they are a time saver. And they are all packaged so alluringly, it’s hard to resist. A word about that: “When you open the package, the food within bears little resemblance to the picture on the package. So don’t be fooled by the coat of pretty colors when the pale and tasteless and non-nutritious lies within.
March 22, 2012
Osteoperosis or osteopina…none for me, but months ago lost my mom at 96 to it very much..years of hunched over an organ or piano and no correct diet, then to nursing home and all the cannned goods and worse.. Vit. K, yes, but get the K2.
Do the weight bearing exercises..they are not hard to do but work wonders for your structure and vitality.
March 22, 2012
Vivian has so much good advice for you. Even though my eyes get stronger from wiser ways, I carry a credit card size magnifier to read the small print. Many ask me where I got it. But they don’t read labels and buy and support things I would not touch. Painful to see young tots toting bags of things that will ever affect their health. Only way to hope to make it better is to vote with your money..don’t buy..tell the store how much junk they carry. Join in and add your name to petitions to cease GMO, MSG, flouridated water and toothpaste and more.
Browmated bread? no way..brown and wild rice organic is so much better. Cakes and pies? wow the power of a small piece of 85% cacao dark chocolate..all the better vs. the other. Cereal and pastuerized milk..dropped the junk years and years ago. My doc? he retired years ago and had not seen him in years anyway.
You have only one you…take care of you by using such resouces as Vivian and others.
March 22, 2012
Don’t forget, the “corporation” adulterates our food on purpose to keep we the people fat, dumb and dependant on them as a means to control all of us. If we stay healthy, we don’t need them and that is a real problem for those who consider themselves above us.
January 8, 2012
I HAVE THE MSG PROBLEM. I GET SEIZURES FROM IT WHEN FOODS EATEN ACCUMULATE AND GO OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS. CANNOT GO ANYWHERE TO EAT, NO VACATIONS, CRUISES OR EVEN FAMILY EVENTS. OTHER THEN STAYING AWAY FROM FOODS CONTAINING MSG, OR ITS MANY OTHER NAMES, CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY OTHER SOLUTION THAT MIGHT HELP. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A LIST OF THE THIRTEEN OTHER NAMES FOR MSG GIVEN TO ME BY MY GODCHILD, WHO HOPED IT WOULD FURTHER HELP ME PREVENT FURTHER MSG SEIZURES. I HAVE TRIED A FEW SUGGESTIONS THROUGH BOOKS I READ, BY DR. BLAYBLOCK AND OTHERS, BUT NOTHING HAS HELPED. DR, BLAYLOCK’S BOOK [EXCITOTOXINS, THE TASTE THAT KILLS] WAS FANTASTIC AND A BOOK BY DR, SCHWARTZ ALSO WASINFORMATIVE, BUT NOTHING HAS RID ME OF THE MSG PROBLEM, PLEASE PLEASE HELP. SYLVIA
December 17, 2011
Wow, Vivian, thank you for this useful information! Label reading is my new hobby! LOL! I’m glad your website is here for us to learn all these great tips — about food *and* exercise. And speaking of foods with “hidden” ingredients, the latest news on Italian olive oil is NOT GOOD! We’re being scammed on just what’s in olive oil imported from Italy, and you can read about it here:
http://www.peak-health-now.com/olive-oil-scams.html
A website like Vivian’s is a valuable tool for all of us!! Thank you, Vivian!
- Suzy
[osteopenia of the back, osteoporosis of the hip]
December 12, 2011
I AM TAKEING A SUPPLEMENT COMBO FROM STANDARD PROCESS. THE CALCIUM IS FROM RAW VEAL BONES AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FACILITY IN WISCONSIN. ALL THIRE
VITAMINS ARE FROM NATURAL PLANTS AND OTHER SOURCES. ITS WORTH A TRY. GET
THEM FROM YOUR LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR.
GRACE
November 10, 2011
Loved all the information
November 7, 2011
Thank you for another very informative article.
Now that I’m following your program, I base my meals (and snacks) on raw vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, seeds, fish, and beans. (Yes, the beans are canned, but they are organic with nothing (including salt) added). I find this a fun and flavorful way to eat — and my energy levels are always high. I just wish more restaurants catered to my way of eating!
November 7, 2011
That’s great to hear, Sharon, and I’m glad you’re enjoying the program! Yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful if more restaurants served bone healthy, pH-balanced, organic meals? Maybe someday…
October 17, 2011
Thank you for all of the wonderful articles including the articles on flu shots!
How do we get the the companies who process and sell foods, along with the FDA and government officials who allow them to do it, to stop adding “poisons” to our food and medicine?
October 13, 2011
Dear Dr Vivian. Again you have made my day. You not only the expert in Oesteoporosis but also the expert in nutrition.
If l may say, you and me are on similar wavelength.l do not use prescription medicines; l use food supplements based on my knowledge on molecular mechanisms of drug action. Thanking you so much for the courtesy extended by giving me these information and you indeed deserve more than this. all the very best.
August 6, 2011
MSG is used to make lab rats obese. It does this by injuring the hypothalamus. It has exactly the same effect on human beings. T. Colin Campbell wrote “The China Study” some years ago, obviously; since then, there has been an 18-fold increase in China of childhood obesity since 1996, caused almost exclusively by MSG intake. So, in addition to damaging our bones, it causes weight gain. So why would any of your readers want to consume it?
July 13, 2011
Thank you for all the good advice and ewncouragement. I have been doing all of this stuff -diet and exercise – for at least 25 years, so I don’t understand why at 64 I have been diagnosed w/osteoporosis!
One thing I have noticed – I get irregular heartbeat from eating hydrolyzed protein and autolyzed yeast extract. Very bad for you!!
Thank you for all you do!
August 12, 2011
I read once that autolyzed yeast extract is just another name for MSG & to stay away from it.
June 27, 2011
Wonderfully thorough. Thank you.
June 25, 2011
This is an interesting article, especially as you’re referring to processed and convenience foods produced and sold n the US. here in the UK we have several supermarkets who have made a real effort to remove chemicals and unhealthy additives from their convenience foods. Although I wouldn’t recommend living off them entirely, I don’t think the odd ‘ready meal’ now and then hurts, especially when you can see the list of organic ingredients they contain – and the rubbish which has been excluded!
December 27, 2011
I agree. As far as ingredients go, we seem to be better off here in the UK than our friends in the USA.
I’ve just checked the ingredients in the(unsweetened, organic)Almond Milk that I use and the thickener is tapioca starch. I’ve also checked out some of the other foodstuffs that Vivian mentions and we don’t seem to have the many ‘chemical’ingredients that the USA does. On the other hand, our food is more expensive especially since in the past few years there’s been a movement afoot to get away from ‘cheap’ food with all its attendant potential health problems.
June 22, 2011
I have been preaching natural and anti preservative and chemical for years in my nursing practice. Thank-you for exposing the intrigue and outright lies.
May 11, 2011
Vivian,
How can I find almond milk that does not have carrageenan in it?
May 18, 2011
Gerri, carrageenans are extracted from red seaweeds and used as a natural thickener in foods and drinks. Unless you have an allergy, they shouldn’t present a problem. If you do have an allergy to carrageenans, you can make your own almond milk.
October 7, 2011
Vivian, above you listed carrageenans as being among those labels used to disguise unhealthy chemicals such as BHTs. “Textured soy protein concentrate, carrageenan, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, modified cornstarch: All of these are basically different names to hide ingredients that either contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or form MSG during processing.” Are they basically benign, then?
-jackie-
May 13, 2011
Gerri, carrageenans are extracted from red seaweeds and used as a natural thickener in foods and drinks. Unless you’re allergic, they’re fine. Most commercially made almond milk has some thickener to give it a better consistency (and more similar to cow’s milk). If you do have an allergy to seaweeds or carrageenans, you can make your own almond milk. You’ll find many easy recipes through an online search.
November 5, 2011
If carrageenans are “fine” unless you’re allergic, why do you list them in the “worst offenders” above? I just don’t understand what you’re saying…
November 7, 2011
I understand the confusion, Shirley. Carrageenan can be synthetic, meaning derived from chemical manipulation instead of from nature. The problem with synthetic carrageenan is that it often contains synthetic MSG. Natural carrageenan, on the other hand, is extracted from seaweed. The problem is that most manufacturers do not differentiate the products. According to Blue Diamond’s Almond Breeze ( almond milk), the carrageenan they use is from seaweed. There’s no info from Morningstar farms, but given the large amount of MSG products they use, I’d be very surprised if they were to use natural carrageenan.
May 4, 2011
As an alternative to a processed “veggie burger” I make my own with a can of beans or chickpeas or lentils, a couple of eggs, some hemp seeds, and breadcrumbs from Ezekiel sprouted bread. Then I add whatever seasonings/spices sound good at the time, and brown on a griddle until heated through. Quick, economical, easy and delicious!
May 10, 2011
Thank you Vivin glade we do not use any cearl with so called Iron! Use to use the Vegie burgers, now will not.
April 1, 2011
Hi Vivian, You mentioned using milk substitutes with a healthy cereal and fresh fruit. What can I use as a MILK SUBSTITUTE. thank you Patricia
October 7, 2011
Almond milk makes a good milk substitute. It is lactose free and tastes good.
March 1, 2011
I am still struggling with the 80/20% balance. I just cant visualize it, If I look at it as 1 out of 5 am I looking at volume so If I have a hamburger patty, do I then have to eat 4 other items that are 4 x in volume? I guess maybe a couple of examples would be really helpful if anyone would mind helping me out.
January 26, 2011
Dear Vivian, I have learned many things in your e-mails thank you very much for all tha informations about foods and good health.
I will try to be careful of what I will buy.I have read about fructoses,can cause obesity,diabetes and all sorts of problems, the question is they are all present in the beverages,also in all fruits which I have read in dr.mercola.com it is vwery scary. My husband said, he will just eat what he wants,because iotherwise he has nothing to eat. thank you love always from juvy.But I am vry careful of what I am eating I study your instructions
May 7, 2012
Hi there MSG!Quite a blog you got going. And the penmanship WOW! I guess Eddie Bear pasesd some of that talent down with the genes!BTW so far this season the Cowgirls are costing me one Jefferson’s note since they are just one down from the Vikes. I was reminded of the balance by you know who!Well keep it up and I’llbe checking on you! Howbout them Rangers UH?I almost forgot tell Farve that the sunny, warm, tropical Texas Coast ha lots of assited living comunities. He may be on the market soon. LOL.The Captain!
December 8, 2010
It really scares me to know that we are very helpless before what we eat in restaurants or the products we buy at the supermarket. Fortunately we have a lot in our power to avoid taking these harmful substances.
February 26, 2011
HOW ABOUT BOYCOTTING THE STORES YOU BUY YOUR GROCERIES FROM. GETTING OTHERS TO JOIN YOU WILL SEND A STRONG MESSAGE. REMEMBER, PEOPLE POWER. THE STORES WOULD’T WANT TO LOSE THE CUSTOMERS SO THEY MAY HAVE TO NOTIFY THE COMPANIES TO ELEMINATE THOSE HARMFUL INGREDIENTS.
December 11, 2010
You can enjoy an occasional restaurant meal as long as you’re careful the rest of the time. And more and more restaurants have healthy, even organic options.
December 8, 2010
Could you explain to me why you say organic yohurt containing cow’s milk is good for you but having organic milk on your cereal leeches calcium from your bones? Also,I often have a soya yohurt after a main meal. Is this better than organic cow’s milk yohurt?
I look forward to your answer. With many thanks.
December 11, 2010
Plain unsweetened yogurt (along with other fermented dairy products) has a neutral pH. Non-fermented dairy products, whether organic or not, are acidifying. As long as it’s plain and unsweetened, soy yogurt is also neutral.
December 1, 2010
Hello Vivian. Thank you for all the info on dangerous items in food, I loved my cereal for breaky now i will be more on guard..You don’t mention fish much, I love prawns the ones we get in Australia are very good. not farmed but out of the sea & fresh .is it ok to have them I also like Nile perch I know it is from overseas. The wsalmo0n mentioned is too expensive for me ,so I wondered what the alternate fish I could eat, I love fish, I am going to start the cleanse program soon, looking forward to it,
Regards Zena Bailey.
November 8, 2010
Hi
vivian; Another great email! My husband and I
look over the additives on foods but don’t do
very well in avoiding what we should. We do
eat home-cooked and home-grown foods and are
trying to be more health conscious. Thanks
for proding us to do better. Louise
October 8, 2010
Dear Dr.Vivian,
I enjoy reading your articles and would like to let you know that we are vegeterians for 25 yr’s.Reason was that I had several problems with coffee adiction I think causing fibrocystic breast,uteral fibroid and back pains due to overuse at work(back flexion instead using hips or knees),stress,sitting,decreased walking/exerc, lack of sleep.etc
Finaly I decided to change my total diet and the result was that all the problems disapeared-I’m /we are(my husband) not on any medication at now age 65 and retired.Due to above inactivity and previous diet I too developed osteopenia and osteporosis in my lumbar(L4-5) joints. I was put on actonel and developed long flu like simptoms.I decided to stop using actonel.Again It was suggested by the doctors to use fosamax-which I tried a few times and decided not to use it any more.Every MD visit produced super results so far. I cut out memogram visits to 2-3 years,as I can feel any changes in my body and if I get any pain I knew the cause(usually poor posture-food alergy)
(In the begining of my diet change it was very dificult to change.I was very strict re fat intake and I steamed most of the time our food. My husband lost slowly 65 lb in first year and for 20+ years he maintains his ideal weight. He used to have HBP and sleeping apnea-all is gone long time ago.He rarely visits doctors and his health is good so far.(His main focus is nutrition)
During the course of my career(OT) I sew various life styles of my clients they choose and their end results by becoming debilitated- taking large amounts of medication and finally many losing their independency.
Therefore,in my situation my goal is to increase my bone integrity-matrix- density and show to the doctors that it is possible to reverse the process with out using those harmful medication and work on building up muscle mass and body flexibility-(I need to work harder to incorporate and increase my exercise program with my various daily activities(walking,exercise,art,photography,family and friends as well as house and meal preparation)
Thank you for listening and sorry for my way of expressing myself as English is my second language)
All the best,
Zemka
November 7, 2010
I was wondering if in fact it would be a good idea if I didn’t eat anything. Even drinking water is dangerous because of chemical additives.
Perhaps we should all just lie down and die?
January 8, 2011
Life is a beautiful gift from God.Our responsibility is to enpower ourself with infomation, such as what Vivian is providing and enjoy each day with a positive attitude, understanding that “Life Is A Gift from God.” Remember that your attitude determines your altitude. You can go as high as you chose, or stay in a fearful mood. Choose life, it is like a vapor, it appearth for a short time, and then fadeth away. Again, choose LIFE!
September 29, 2010
i just paid for and ordered your ‘save our bones’ book. now i get a message that the ’44bone health do’s & don’t;s is included
with my order but find they are digital items and need to download them.i did not order digital items!my computer cannot download information. so am i being shortchanged with my order is this disinformation in advertizing? can i have this info. printed out for me?
can you send me info. in written form. thank you.
October 4, 2010
I too was surprised when I got my email. Except for the book itself, I found out that I need to download everything else. I also did not opt for the digital items. Like you I felt shortchanged and I thought the cost of all these was too high after adding printing costs. I hope we can get an explanation from Vivian about this. Thank you.
September 24, 2010
again, Xylitol is super healthy sweetener. Looks like sugar, tastes like sugar, no aftertaste like Stevia.
A little expensive, but well worth it!
September 8, 2010
Hi Vivian, Intresting topic. Have always watched lables on food packets never buy anything with items in it i am not sure of. I suffer from alergic reactions to many items and have to be careful. Our food chain had been poisoned by additives which we dont need and cannot digest all in the name of MONEY.Wonder why there is so much sickness around ? Catherine
June 25, 2010
What do you think of xylitol? I have read reports that claim it helps build bone.
July 23, 2010
Iam A Research Nutrionist who studies under an Internist, Gastroenterologist. She is a wonderful doctor who is filled with so much knowledge. My quest in life is to help anyone I am able to. I adore studying nutrition. You are wonderful and right on. I love reading and learning from you!!!
June 25, 2010
I am confused over into which category foods like walnuts and yogurt fall. Some lists have walnuts as acid.
June 23, 2010
carageenan is from seaweed and is used for thickening ….quite a natural and safe product as far as i have heard
January 1, 2012
Otherwise known as Irish Moss.
June 19, 2010
Dear Vivian: Thankyou so very much for your all your advice. I don’t eat cereal,once on the w. I like to eat fruits, cerely, carrots, cucombros, an fruts… After O.meal some times, or eggs. – Cocolate and chees, some time w.toust. Etc.etc.- I like made home soups, Green plainten. No to much meet Few times fish, or chiken. I love cheeses, Vegetab les and fresh food, not frouzen. Apologize for my my gramma. Sincerely, Maria
June 9, 2010
Thanks for the info on Vit. K. You said Ki is found in SPINACH. We eat lots of fresh Spinach. Should we limit the amount? Also heard a Doctor on a radio health program promoting a product called Intellical. He stressed the value of VIT. K2. I (kathy) just started using a product called INNO-OSTEO. which contains K2,D3, Mag. B12, etc. You can check it out at Co. Website, http://www.inno-vite.com .
June 8, 2010
Thank you the article processed food dangerous & hidden food ingredients. From now on I pay attention to read the ingredient babels.
Your diet is admirable.
In morning eat fruits, pumpkin seeds. Lunch-start salad, then veggies, nuts & seeds. Do you accompany some sandwiches or rice? meat only eat at dinner.
Talking is easy, but pratice is difficult, I learn slow. I’ll do my best, because I want to get health which money can’t buy.
I think the food prepare by myself is more safe, no preservative.
June 2, 2010
Hi Vivian, I love milk, how about Goat;s milk it is praized a lot for many medicinal reasons, I did not have milk when I was grwing, my teeth where not good and now I am struck with osteo, low bone density, Vitamin D depletion,
May 29, 2010
Once again thank you for all your hard work!! For two years I have followed Michael Murrays “acid/alkaline” suggestions . And so happy you address alkaline foods. In a month I am to have a dex scan. It will be interesting how it compares to two years ago. When medical docs view my report they of course want me on “drugs”. I take to my chiropractor and he says all is well!! Go figure! Again THANK YOU
May 28, 2010
This is shocking as are so many other readily available food products that should be banned.Can we not involve our Health Ministers?
This is such a complicated issue for many people who are confused or totally unaware.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
May 23, 2010
Vivian, I didn’t go on and get my masters in nutrition but I did take every class in nutrition than was available in college–along with three chemistry classes (general, organic and food) and have done a lot of reading on the subject as well.
When I was a teenager I was taught that eating between meals (snacks) is very hard on your digestive system. Apparently it takes 4-5 hours for your stomach to digest a meal and have a time to rest before the next meal (or snack) is added to the mix. That is one reason it is essential to eat a hardy breakfast. Your body has digested your evening meal and gone a while with nothing in it and needs that good breakfast to “jump-start” your new day.
I was also taught that the evening meal should be the lightest meal of the day and eaten early so your stomach has time to digest it before you go to bed.
I know this flies in the face of the way people live today but it has worked well for me and my family. (Not all of my five children have followed their early training but I did what I could when they were home with their father and me.)
I am almost 86 now and doctors tell me I have amazing health for “a woman your age.” I am on no medications and all my vital signs are excellent. (My one health problem is a bad back–caused by a small deformity in my lower spine when I was born which I didn’t know I had until it started bothering me in my late 70′s and it was x-rayed.
I’ve led a very active life and it never really bothered me until then. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 18 and am pretty much a Vegan now.
How do you see this?
May 17, 2010
I was suprised to read about soybean crops being genetically modified. I often snack on Edamame, which are soybeans. How can I tell if they come from genetically modified crops?
May 4, 2011
“USDA Certified Organic” should be clearly labeled on the package.
January 3, 2011
Read the labels. Anything that says organic should be free of GM. Anything that simply does not say is probably genetically modified. FDA does not allow products to be described as GM free (apparently it will “confuse the consumer”), but they may be described as organic. Best plan is to choose organic every time.
May 13, 2010
It’s amazing that so many foods have more toxic chemicals than beneficial nutrients. Are any of the bars ok for consumption like – larabar.
May 13, 2010
I need help! I have a very acidic PH… HOW CAN I GET THIS NO. AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL? Thanks
MARYJO REAM
May 21, 2011
Hi Mary Jo,
I too was off the charts w/ an acidic pH and it caused me to become very sick, long story….
Anyway, there is help for you and everyone. The product is called pHenomenal, the website is MRSA30day.com and it saved my life! Anyone reading this, and wants to feel healthy again, bring their body back to the proper pH, fight off free-radicals with -300 antioxidants (yes, I said -300!) (spinach has -24), then order the product, and see for yourself what it can do for you! Money back if you do not see or notice a difference. There is so much more to say about this, but go to the web site and read for yourself! God Bless! Diane Smith
April 30, 2010
Some years back for no reason I began losing a lot of weight. I had just about every test known to man and doctors couldn’t come up with anything except irritable bowel and GERD. I decided to go gluten free because I had a feeling that was part of my problem plus other food intolerances which I attribute to chemicals in the food I was eating. I now bake all my own bread, cakes and biscuits, drink only rice milk eat no processed foods, eat plenty of fresh fruits and veges, and take vitamin supplements and I am slowing gaining some much needed weight. Yes it is a bit more time consuming but you and your families health is the most important thing – don’t expect food and drug companies to care about your health – to them the bottom line is the almighty dollar.
May 13, 2010
I am becoming a vegetarian–I am no longer eating any processed or cooked foods; but I still feel that my bones are being comprimised due to a very acidic condition!!!! Help!
Maryjo Ream
April 26, 2010
How much grapefruit should be eatten each day? I start my breakfast with a half grapefruit, organic hot rice cereal with a few walnuts and raisens(stopped using milk on it since reading your report). The rest of day is not as good , but I do eat fresh brocoli and other veggies along with meat. 2-3 times a week I go Chinese- the salt is probably bad, but I have so many food allergies, I can usually eat Chinese without headaches. All grains except rice, and some rye-breads ( even glutan -free) seem to give headaches, and Olive Oil causes stomach upset. Most calcium supplements cause headaches or frequent urination, even those from health food stores with Citrate. I did find a liquid vitamin D from Biotics research corp. which has my level up to 85. Hopefully that will help, as it has been low many years.
razy What can a person do to improve with this crazy food allergy? My spine went from -2.5 to -3.5 within the last two years. (I’m 59.)
Thanks,
Rosemary Lambert
December 17, 2010
Hi, my unmarried name was Rosemary Lambert – and we are the same age! I live in Australia.
April 25, 2010
My Dr. is asking me to take calcium pills and I am wondering if they are good for me or not. If the calcium in cows milk depleats the calcium in our bones will calcium pills not do the same?
April 22, 2010
I am so thankful to have found your web page. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis last fall. I will be following this diet more closely when I arrive home. Thank you for all you have presented so far. I havehad a gastric by pass and have a thyroid problem so I have to diet all the time. Every bit of food I put in my mouth has to be quality food. Thank you for your information and I look forward to each email you send. Sheila Ramey
April 22, 2010
I invested in the Save our Bone Health resources several months ago and have been encouraged and amazed at what I’ve learned (and passed on to my friends and loved ones). This video about reduced iron is shocking – thank you for including this and researching all of this for us. Many people just won’t take the time to learn about the ingredients that are hidden in our food but they will have to pay the price with ill health as they get older. The more we learn about healthy alternatives, the more we can make educated and wise choices as we take our health into our own hands.
Thank you again for all of your hard work and commitment to get the word out.
Nancy O’Brien
Pensacola, FL