But let me tell you, you may as well go outside and eat dirt, it's more nutritious. The box usually has a three-inch listing on the side of ingredients, and almost none that you can pronounce. The microwave changes the chemical composition of your foods into nothing, stealing every bit of nutrition that might have been in it to start with.
Since "changing" into this highly-obsessed healthful mother, I've gotten rid of our microwave. I've started buying a boxed (some things in a box are worth buying) bread mix for my bread maker (can't get past the non-stick coating on the bread pan unless I make it by hand), stopped most dairy products, and try to buy organic milk and cheese and the best meat I can afford, although I've cut meat down to a once or twice a week meal also. I peel apples if they aren't organic, but I've failed to find non-conventional grapes on a regular basis, and I can't afford the organic cherries. They get soaked (a lot) before eating and I count on country sunshine to help create Vitamin D and de-tox our systems. And I've started my own garden.
As I ate my instant oatmeal (Maple and Brown Sugar) I wondered if the "artificial flavoring" was really code for MSG. I called Quaker Oatmeal and actually got a real live human, who knew what I was referring to, and she told me that their product does not contain MSG, and that there was a law that required all MSG to be labeled as such. I had read that if the ingredient was less than 2% of the total that MSG didn't need to be on the label. Apparently this has changed, and it does have to be claimed now. That makes me feel a ton better about the Quaker brand food, although I did forget to ask where the flavoring came from and if they made it themselves or if it were bought from another source.
I guess I can always call them back.
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Article comments
1 - Rich Murray
Lifetime exposure to low doses of aspartame beginning during prenatal
life increases cancer effects in rats, Morando Soffritti et al,
European Ramazzini Foundation, USA EPA Environmental Health
Perspectives 2007.06.13 free full text 24 pages: Murray 2007.06.16
CONCLUSIONS
The results of our second long-term carcinogenicity bioassay on APM not only confirm, but also reinforce our first experimental
demonstration of APM's multipotental carcinogenicity at a dose level
close to the human ADI.
Furthermore, the study demonstrates that when lifespan exposure to APM begins during fetal life, its carcinogenic effects are increased.
On the basis of the present findings, we believe that a review of the current regulations governing the use of aspartame cannot be delayed.
This review is particularly urgent with regard to aspartame-containing beverages, heavily consumed by children. "
" APM is metabolized in the gastric tract of rodents, non-human primates and humans to its three constituents: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol.
When absorbed, aspartic acid is transformed into alanine plus oxaloacetate (Stegink 1984);
phenylalanine is transformed mainly into tyrosine and, to a lesser extent, phenylethylamine and phenylpyruvate (Harper 1984);
and methanol is transformed into formaldehyde and then to formic acid (Opperman 1984)."
stevia to be approved and cyclamates limited by Food Standards Australia New Zealand: JMC Geuns critiques of two recent stevia
studies by Nunes: Murray 2007.05.29
more from The Independent, UK, Martin Hickman, re ASDA (unit of Wal-Mart Stores) and Marks & Spencer ban of aspartame, MSG, artificial chemical additives and dyes to prevent ADHD in kids: Murray 2007.05.16
"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to actively find, quickly share, and positively act upon the facts about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."
[Personal contact info deleted]
2 - MaryAnna
Thank you. I think you are saying, and pardon me for being dense this late at night, that Aspartame is a dangerous ingredient based on studies showing it to be cancer causing?
Funny, I had a Dr. send me a horribly elitist Email (to my personal Email address) telling me to "write what I know" and to stop "pontificating" -- huh?
If writers only wrote what they know they wouldn't make much of a living or raise awareness that often needs to be raised.
Thanks for the comment -- apparently you are as deluded about "chemistry" as I am (according to my private Email ;)
I think next time I'll write about people with huge egos who think that the M.D. after their names make them bullet proof.
3 - High Heels
I wonder if the "doctor" who emailed you works for the lucrative aspartame industry?
"Almost all aspartame studies conducted and funded independently of the aspartame manufacturer (and related trade groups) have linked aspartame to adverse effects or adverse biochemical changes. This includes numerous human studies (e.g., clinical, double-blind) and animal studies (Walton 1996). As discussed throughout this document, the Scientific Committee on Food either ignored many of these independent studies or had negative things to say about almost all of the independent studies that they did mention. An enormous number of reports of serious adverse effects from aspartame are being sent to governmental agencies, scientists, clinicians, and independent organizations (DHHS 1993, Roberts 1988a, Food 1986, Walton 1988, ATIC 1998, ATIC 1997, ACSN 1997, AVSG 2003, NM 2003).
On the other hand, the Committee accepted almost all of the aspartame industry-funded studies without any negative comment. In fact, the Committee relied heavily on and repeatedly cited parts of books and reviews written and compiled by employees of the aspartame manufacturer (e.g., Stegink 1984, Tschanz 1996, Butchko 1994, Butchko 2001)."
I won't have it in the house. I sweeten with unrefined sugar or honey; and sometimes with just plain white refined sugar - much rather that than this unnecessary, suspect chemical.
4 - High Heels
Link to source of quote in mt last comment HH