Category Archives: Health & Wellness

Kraft Lies: Not 100% Parmesan

Recent concerns surrounding GMO, MSG, Aspartame, and other   potential  garbage in our food has had me looking a little more closely at food labels.

Today while shopping I picked up I container labeled Kraft 100% Parmesan Grated Cheese.

The label gives even more detail:  The label doesn’t just say parmesan, it says 100% parmesan.  That’s because we only use the finest ingredients, carefully crafted and aged for a sharp, distinctive taste that enhances your favorite dishes — a taste that’s 100 real, 100% parmesan.  Below is a scanned graphic of the actual label.

Kraft 100% Parmesan

Kraft is a brand well known for quality.  Or so I thought.  Let’s take a closer look at the ingredient list.  Rotated and enlarged for your convenience.

Ingredients:  parmesan cheese (milk, bacterial culture, salt, lipase, microbial enzyme, calcium chloride), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate.  May contain modified milk ingredients.  (A061l) contains:  milk.

  • Parmesan cheese contains milk, bacterial culture, and so on.  Looks good so far.
  • Cellulose powder is also known as food grade wood pulp.  Huh?  In at least three places the label reads, 100% Parmesan.
  • Potassium sorbate is a food preservative.  Whether it is healthy or not is a story for another blog post.
  • May contain modified milk ingredients.  This may be another way to label MSG.

The fact food grade wood pulp is found in this product means it is not 100% parmesan cheese as the label suggests.  Kraft Canada has a label that is just a little bit misleading, don’t you think?.

 

 

Today is Mental Health Day

I live with someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness.

For the most part, the care we get from health professionals is good.

Now and again we are reminded that many people who are diagnosed bi-polar end up abandoned by their spouse or significant other.

Most of the time these comments come from health professionals that are supposed to be helping us.

I have no intentions of leaving my best friend during some of the worst times in her life.

My question back to those who bring up the statistics is, “Why?  Is that what YOU would do?

Hidden Sources of MSG

Recently I discovered I am sensitive to monosodium glutamate (MSG).  The discovery came as the result of doing some research on the artificial sweetener known as aspartame.  Aspartame and mononsodium glutamate (MSG) are both excitotoxins.  Excitotoxins are chemicals that trick our brain into thinking something tastes good.  These chemicals are ultimately poison.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is found in more foods than I would have imagined.  The part that bothers me most is that by law in Canada and the United States, food manufacturers do not have to directly reveal the presence of MSG on labeling.  Unlike aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) does not have to be labeled as  clearly.

Food Additives that ALWAYS contain MSG

  • monosodium glutamate
  • hydrolyzed protein
  • plant protein extract
  • sodium caseinate
  • calcium caseinate
  • yeast extract
  • textured protein (including TVP)
  • autolyzed yeast
  • hydrolyzed oat flour
  • corn oil

Food Additives that FREQUENTLY contain MSG

  • malt extract
  • malt flavoring
  • bouillon
  • broth
  • stock
  • flavoring
  • natural flavors / flavoring
  • seasoning
  • spices

Food Additives that MAY contain MSG

  • carrageenan
  • enzymes
  • soy protein concentrate
  • soy protein isolate
  • whey protein concentrate

Today marks Day #7 without knowingly consuming MSG.  My symptoms, which were mainly diarrhea and and difficulties with focus, have been cleared up since Day #3.  I am planning a future post that contains a list of common grocery items that contain MSG.

Sources

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Russell L. Blaylock

Migraine-Free Cooking!

My wife occasionally suffers from migraine headaches.  Doctors usually recommend certain medications which deal with the symptoms.  The problem with medications is drugs only mask symptoms.  Drugs do not cure disease or deal with the root cause of the problem.

Recently I discovered a web site called “Migraine-Free Cooking!” written by Heidi Gunderson.  Heidi is focused on dealing with migraine headaches by being careful about what we eat and drink.  For a long time I have believed that 80% or more of our health is based on what we eat, drink, and breathe.

For some people, tomatoes are a trigger.  As are onions.  What about sugar, salt, and milk?  Click here and find out; scroll to the bottom of the page.

Heidi is working on a cookbook, also titled Migraine-Free Cooking! dedicated to sharing recipes for those who suffer from migraine headaches.  I look forward to writing a review.

Common Products that Contain Aspartame

Recently I blogged about a video from Fox News on the synthetic sweetener, Aspartame.  As a follow-up, this post is dedicated to products that contain the poison (Aspartame) that are not so obvious.  The original Fox News video can be found here.

It is my intent to update this list on a regular basis.  Your submissions are welcome.

Flintstone Vitamins

Certain Flintstone Vitamin products contain Aspartame.  According to the manufacturer, Bayer, Aspartame is used to mask the bitter taste of  calcium.  Flintstone Vitamins are synthetic so they are of little use to the body anyway.  Bayer is a leading pharmaceutical company.  Probably best known as makers of Aspirin.

NeoCitran

NeoCitran is promoted as a remedy to relieve cold and flu symptoms.  This product used to be one of my favorite remedies and I was extremely disappointed when I discovered certain NeoCitran products contain Aspartame.  I find this especiallyinteresting considering NeoCitran isn’t recommended for diabetics in the first place and has no connection with weight loss.  NeoCitran is made by the pharmaceutical company, Novartis.

Last update:  October 10, 2010

Fox News on Aspartame (Nutrasweet)

If you use Aspartame on a regular basis, you need to watch this.  If you want alternatives, we need to talk.

More information on Aspartame (Nutrasweet) can be found on the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

At some point I plan to do a more complete review of this poison that is commonly found in diet products.  I do not for one minute believe that either the American FDA, or Health Canada always tell the truth or always have our best interests in mind.

Updates

August 18, 2009:

A list of products that contain Aspartame that may not be so obvious can be found here.