Carrageenan: A Dangerous, Sneaky, & Commonly Used Food Additive even in tooth paste What is carrageenan? - It is derived from red seaweed and is processed in a way to make it a “food grade” additive. - For many years the carrageenan trade lobby group has fought to promote this seaweed- based additive as a “safe and natural food additive”. - It is not used for nutritional value, flavor, or color, but instead used in many products as a thickener, giving food a fattier texture or sensation on your palate. Imitating a thick, rich, full-fat food option. ( Um, no thanks. I’ll take the real deal instead!) - It is also used as a stabilizer, so it creates a even texture and consistency throughout the entire product. (An example would be a beverage with particles that naturally separate. Instead of having to shake it to reincorporate it, it just stays evenly mixed. Weird right?!) Carrageenan: A Dangerous, Sneaky, & Commonly Used Food Additive | WholeGreenLove What foods do you find carrageenan in? - Dairy: ice cream, chocolate milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, whipping cream, squeezable yogurts…you know the ones that are marketed as kid friendly - Dairy Alternatives: soy milk, hemp milk, almond milk, coconut milk, a good majority of the previously listed alternative products i.e. soy yogurt, pudding, ice cream etc. - Meats: Prepared chicken products, and sliced turkey - Nutritional Drinks: Ensure™, SlimFast™, Carnation Breakfast Essentials™, and Orgain™ - Prepared Foods: microwaveable dinners, canned soups, broths, frozen pizza, even pet foods Why should you avoid Carrageenan? - The way carrageenan is chemically structured triggers an autoimmune response. Autoimmune responses lead to inflammation within the body. - The inflammation has been noticed more specifically in the gastrointestinal system. Ranging from “belly bloat” , to (IBS) irritable bowel syndrome, to (IBD) Irritable bowel disease. - Prolonged inflammation within the body is a precursor to more serious health morbidity. - There are many inflammatory diseases that have been associated with the human body: inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, as well as cancers. - There is concern by scientists that the acidity found within the stomach causes “food grade” carrageenan to “degrade”, which would expose your digestive system to a recognized carcinogen. - “Carrageenan exposure clearly causes inflammation; the amount of carrageenan in food products is sufficient to cause inflammation; and degraded carrageenan and food-grade carrageenan are both harmful.” – Dr. Joanne Tobacman, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Click here to read more from Dr. Joanne Tobacman - “[Dr. Tobacman] explained that all forms of carrageenan are capable of causing inflammation. This is bad news. We know that chronic inflammation is a root cause of many serious diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and cancer. All told, I recommend avoiding regular consumption of foods containing carrageenan.” – Dr. Andrew Weil - According to Bhattacharyya, Dedeja, and Tobacman’s journal article in 2008, numerous studies have been published identifying carrageenan’s unique chemical structure and how it triggers an immune response in the body, which is similar to the effects of pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella. Carrageenan: A Dangerous, Sneaky, & Commonly Used Food Additive | WholeGreenLove Want to know more? - A Report by The Cornucopia Institute on carrageenan lays out the facts about this “natural” food additive and why it should be removed from our food supply. It shares a wealth of knowledge based around studies that have been conducted over many years of research. - See what’s new on The Cornucopia Institute front by keeping up to date with their newsletter. What can you do? - Here is a Shopping Guide that can help you select brands of food that are made without the addition of carrageenan. - Sign the FDA petition to remove carrageenan from our food supply. - Know where you are getting your food from and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Over and over we are seeing conflict of interest from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), not to mention other regulating groups. Sadly, we have seen that money talks, and the interests of other individuals and group entities have prevailed over the general health of our population and communities as a whole. It is so important that we ask questions, demand change, and recreate a healthy food culture. “Science at the bidding of the corporations is knowledge reduced to merchandise” – Wendell Berry
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 19:56:13 +0000
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