The ingredients we ingest have a direct impact on our mood, anxiety, and other mental health struggles. The notion of how the food we eat impacts our physical bodies is present, however the education of alternative options is not as readily available or promoted. I believe 2022 is going to be a year in which more and more people are starting to take control of their health, that includes mental but also physical health. People are developing an awareness of how over the years we have been lied to and conditioned by the food industry. We have been deceived into believing that “fat free,” “skim,” “sugar free,” “paleo,” “vegan,” “keto” and “high protein/low carb” options are the better choice for our health. Additionally, products that include comments like “not made with ..x, y, z” notice how they always highlight that their product is NOT made with those ‘bad’ ingredients, rather than being transparent with the ingredient they indeed use. It has been ingrained in our brains that “full fat” products, eggs and butter are bad for our health, for our cholesterol and heart conditions. When in fact, it has been proven BUT not advertised to the mass population that in fact they were wrong and those previously mentioned catch words were indeed marketing strategies. The food industry’s goal is not to keep you healthy, but to have you addicted to their food which in turn will make us eat more and more. The ingredients they use to make products use toxic ingredients linked to cancer, behavioral issues in kids, anxiety, mood disorders, etc. You do not have to take my word for it, do your research and you will be baffled (like I was). The Standardized American Diet’s acronym is SAD and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence, because it is sad indeed. Our kids’ cereal, treats, chocolate, and other ‘yummy’ snacks are made with:
- -Titanium Dioxide – Deemed by the FDA as not safe for human consumption, yet it is found in the popular pop-tarts, icing, skittles, Mac & Cheese, and others
- -Sucralose (an artificial sweetener) – You’ll often find Sucralose in seemingly “healthy” products – like Celsius energy drinks and “Zero Sugar” foods… but don’t be fooled. Sucralose has been shown to actually increase sugar cravings and contribute to weight gain. It might actually help you GAIN weight – not lose it! Sucralose is made in a laboratory by reacting sugar with Chlorine. It’s been linked to leukemia and related blood cancers in animal studies.
- -TBHQ -Known to harm the immune system. This ingredient can be found in CheezIts, PopTarts, Torino’s, Reese’s Chocolate, just to name a few.
- -Carrageenan (a thicker and emulsifier linked to cancer and gut issues) – You will find this controversial ingredient in most yogurts, tortillas, deli meats, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, coffee creamers and McDonald’s Shakes. Carrageenan is made from seaweed, but that doesn’t necessarily make it safe.
- -BHA – Countries all over the globe have banned BHA and for good reason. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) is an endocrine disruptor, which increases your risk of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. Despite this, the FDA doesn’t care and allows food companies to use it in America. You can find this toxic ingredient in Bagel Bites, KoolAid, some pizzas, pepperoni, most pre-made mashed potatoes, and others.
These ingredients minimally scratch the surface of what is wrong with the food choices we make. There are so many more concerning ingredients such as enriched white flour, corn syrup and other types of oils, preservatives, MSGs, additives, artificial and natural flavors (by the way, there is NOTHING natural about “natural flavors”), omega-6s, food dyes, etc.
Food companies all over Europe are swiftly removing these chemicals from their products (do a side by side comparison between the ingredient list of products made in the USA and those made in Europe)…but they aren’t in America because it’s still allowed by the FDA here. (See pic)
This is what’s wrong with our food system.
The FDA allows companies to use unnecessary ingredients to make their processed food look better, smell better, and taste better – even if these ingredients pose a great risk to our health.
History has shown us that the FDA allows controversial ingredients in our food for DECADES before pulling them from the market.
Therefore, instead of focusing on macros and specific diets, let’s focus on eating clean. Let’s flip over the product and read the ingredients list. If we cannot pronounce a word or don’t know what a word means, our bodies don’t know how to ‘read’ that ingredient either and hence these items cause us gut issues, inflammation, and exacerbate some mental health disorders.
We shouldn’t be afraid of food, we just need to be educated and make alternative options. Healthy and healthier versions are available…they are on the shelves in the grocery stores of your choice, we just need to find them.
When it comes to milk, use whole milk and grass fed.
When it comes to eggs, use pasture raised eggs.
When it comes to chocolate, use stone ground dark chocolate or 70% and above dark
When it comes to dairy products, go for full fat options and skip on low fat alternatives.
When it comes to meat products, use grass fed meats.
When it comes to baking, use almond, coconut, or oat flour.
Do not be afraid to eat fruits and veggies especially if organic. Raw and unprocessed foods are always going to win when compared with man-made products in a lab.
I am not trying to teach fear.
I am not trying to teach elitism.
I am not trying to teach a diet.
I am not trying to teach an extreme.
I am not even teaching that you have to buy the “best” all the time.
I am simply trying to teach in a simple way, the better option of products that will NOURISH our bodies.
I believe our bodies are a prized possession.
I believe our health is even more of a prized possession.
Hopefully this blog entry has sparked your interest to learn more about the impact we can have on our health, physical and mental one. Take control over your health, one bite at a time.
A comment follow up question I often get is “well, what CAN I eat then?” This is a great resource that educates us about the products we often consume. It will let you know if it is “Bobby approved” and if not, it highlights in red the ingredients of concern. Blue thumbs up is a go while red thumbs down is a no-no. This app is free and an amazing resources for quick reference whether you are in-store wondering about a product or at home creating a grocery list. I often use this to discover new ‘approved’ brands.
App: BobbyApproved
YouTube Channel: FlavCity with Bobby Parish
