Are you eating #naturalflavors? Think again.

(NaturalNews) What does the term "natural flavors" really mean? Could it be that the term "natural flavors" includes genetically modified, pesticide-laden food? There are also plenty of "food products" on the shelves that read "all natural" on the label, but they still contain large amounts of synthetic, laboratory-concocted food agents, many of which cause diseases and disorders. So how much more confusing can it get to simply shop for food that doesn't kill you slowly?

Exactly who makes the rules about terms put on labels? You better hope it doesn't all fall in the hands of the FDA, the same organization responsible for allowing genetically modified food to exist and be sold completely undercover ever since its inception. And does natural flavoring include the migraine headache monster monosodium glutamate? Also, can "natural flavoring" include bugs that are ground up to turn your food into some "happy" colors that help you celebrate some birthday or big event? One final question: could "natural flavoring" mean the food contains meat, even though it's a vegetarian or vegan product?

Maybe "natural flavoring" means it's not natural at all, instead, some food scientists were paid millions to create un-natural, immune system "crippling" foods, drinks, candies and medicine, just to make some extra money off of your sickness. There's a point where conspiracy theory bleeds over into the real world of unnatural food and medicine, where paranoia of cancer scams and epidemics spill over into actual statistics (United States), the ones which include every other man and every third women in the most "powerful country in the world."

MSG, Aspartame and bugs in your food are all considered "natural flavors" and "natural colors"

Do you know what autolyzed yeast extract really is? It's MSG. Do you know what hydrolyzed soy protein (also MSG) does to your body? Have you thought about eating some beetles lately, or do you only do that when you have cupcakes, popsicles, birthday cake and cough medicine?

Has your doctor discussed with you the fact that your ingestion of artificial sweeteners may be the main cause of your muscle aches, headaches, irritable bowels and even fibromyalgia? Do allopathic doctors, surgeons and oncologists in America have to take even one single class in college on nutrition? No, they don't. What about continuing education to keep up with the latest food toxins? Nope!

Who regulates whether or not something qualifies as a "natural flavor?" Who does inspections at factories and laboratories, or is that left up to the manufacturer, much like the way it's up to vaccine manufacturers to report adverse effects? When the police themselves are crooks, there's no "policing" of the crimes they are committing. In fact, the whole differentiation of GMO & artificial from Natural & Organic has become a murky mess. The line of distinction between foods labeled "all natural" and cancer causing food is not only blurred, it barely exists.

First of all, regulations for the word "natural" only apply to flavors; anywhere else you find it on food packaging means absolutely nothing regarding quality. Secondly, the FDA definition of "natural flavors" and "natural flavoring" allows for the substance to be extracted from plant or animal "matter." So when you buy something that's organic, vegetarian, or vegan, and it has "natural flavoring," you could be eating a pig, cow, turkey, chicken, or lamb which was shot up with growth hormones, fed GMO pesticide-laden corn and grain - probably mixed with other animals of it's same breed, then shot up with antibiotics due to infections and diseases from living in confined quarters on slats covered in feces.

Your enemy wears a friendly mask

Gary Reineccius, a professor in the Department of Food Science & Nutrition at the University of Minnesota has a tricky explanation for all you researchers. He convinces you to think more about the practical difference between "natural flavoring" and artificial flavoring, which is an angle that might make you think he's looking out for your best interest, but then he contends that the "flavorist" creating any artificial flavoring could never achieve the same "desired flavor," and therefore, if a consumer "purchases an apple beverage that contains an artificial flavor, he/she will ingest the same primary chemicals that he/she would take in if he/she had chosen a naturally flavored apple beverage. What a complete farce!

Of course, this makes no sense at all, but it's one of those resources out there to throw consumers off track who have the energy and the "gumption" to look up the difference online. Mr. Reineccius, the illustrious professor, goes on to tell you more lies. Next he informs you that, "Artificial flavorings are simpler in composition and potentially safer because only safety-tested components are utilized." Really, so where are all the great results from the GMO tests they've run on humans?

MSG is the grim reaper of food additives

Monosodium Glutamate is a neurotoxin that can be legally hidden from you and/or be labeled "natural flavors" in the ingredients list. MSG is not a natural flavor - in fact, it can cause brain lesions, neuro-endocrine disorders, and neurodegenerative disease in humans, but you won't hear any doctors of Western Medicine mentioning that at your next extreme migraine emergency visit. There are more than 25 names for MSG, so sometimes you find it spread out a little, just in case the manufacturer gets "checked out" by anyone other than the FDA.

The FDA does not require that any source of MSG be identified. This means that the FDA code does not require that "constituents" of an ingredient be disclosed to the consumer. Yet in hundreds of studies around the world, scientists are creating obese mice using MSG because it triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. This is what the FDA calls natural. There's even a name for the fat rodents that eat this "Natural Flavor" additive: they're called "MSG-Treated Rats."

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance. Since its introduction into the American food supply 50 years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to processed meals, soups, chips, and fast foods. The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ehow.com/list_7409993_fda-regulations-natural-flavors.html

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5088008

http://www.scientificamerican.com

http://www.kisswebpage.com/msg/

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036308_natural_flavors_MSG_aspartame.html#ixzz2tyjsj5Q1

O is for #Organic

The Dirty Dozen
Packaged and processed foods get many a family through the day. They are convenient and portable, and they stay fresh for a long time (thanks to all those preservatives). The additives put into processed foods to make them look and taste better include unhealthy amounts of salt, fat and sugar – and those are the ones you can pronounce. These additives, however, have a price that may include side effects, food allergies, increased waistlines, decreased absorption of minerals and vitamins, cancer and more.
Below is a list of the 12 most pervasive and detrimental food additives and substances you can eat, in no particular order.

1. Artificial Sweeteners:
Artificial sweeteners are a combination of chemicals that exist to make our foods sweeter without the calories of sugar. Most artificial sweeteners have side effects, and their chemical breakdown in the body can be toxic. In addition, in combination with other food additives like artificial colors, artificial sweeteners can have a much more potent effect on nerve cells. Artificial sweeteners link to over 90 side effects.

2. Refined Sugar:
People in the US consume 150 to 175 pounds of sugar per year. In other words, people are consuming half a cup of sugar a day and most aren’t even aware of it. Due to its insidious nature and the fact that it can be found in virtually all processed foods, unless they say “sugar-free,” we subsist on sugar. High consumption of sugar and the corresponding elevated insulin levels can cause weight gain, bloating, fatigue, arthritis, migraines, lowered immune function, obesity, cavities and cardiovascular disease. It can also disrupt absorption of nutrients, possibly leading to osteoporosis, depression, PMS symptoms and stress.

3. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):
MSG is an excitotoxin used to bring out the flavor in foods. Excitotoxins are toxins that bind to certain receptors (e.g., certain glutamate receptors). According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, excitotoxins can cause sensitive neurons to die. Many people experience a host of other side effects like headaches, itchy skin, dizziness and respiratory, digestive, circulatory and coronary concerns.

4. Artificial Colors:
Artificial colors are synthetic chemicals that do not occur in nature. Most are derived from coal tar and can contain up to 10 parts per million of lead and arsenic and still be generally recognized as safe by the FDA. Artificial colors can cause allergic reactions and hyperactivity and ADD in children, and may contribute to visual and learning disorders or cause nerve damage.

5. BHA and BHT:

BHA and BHT block the process of oil rancidity. These additives seem to affect sleep and appetite, and have been associated with liver and kidney damage, hair loss, behavioral problems, cancer, fetal abnormalities and growth retardation.

6. Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite:
Sodium nitrate and nitrite are preservatives that are added to processed meat products. These compounds transform into cancer-causing agents called nirosamines in the stomach. Noticeable side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

7. Caffeine:
Caffeine is an addictive stimulant found in soft drinks, gum, diet pills and pain relievers; it naturally occurs in coffee, cocoa and tea. Caffeine causes calcium to be excreted from the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis and increase infertility.

8. Olestra (Olean):
Olestra is a calorie-free fat substitute used as an ingredient in snacks and chips. Olestra inhibits the
absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. It can also cause diarrhea and anal leakage.

9. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO):
Brominated vegetable oil is used to keep flavor oils in soft drinks in suspension. When consumed, it is stored in fat and over time can accumulate. This additive can lead to reproductive interference and birth defects. It has been banned in 100 countries.

10. Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil:
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is made by reacting vegetable oil with hydrogen. When this occurs, the level of polyunsaturated oils (good fat) is reduced and trans fats are created. They are associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis and elevated cholesterol.

11. Pesticides:
Every year more than two billion pounds of pesticides are added to our food supply. That’s about 10 pounds per person per year. Many of the pesticides used throughout the world are carcinogenic. Pesticide accumulation also undermines our ability to resist infectious organisms, may impair fertility and contributes to miscarriages and birth defects.

12. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs):

GMOs are plants or animals that have had their DNA modified. In the US, the majority of the corn, soybean, cotton and canola crops are now genetically modified, and one or more of these can be found in nearly every processed food. GMOs have not been proven to be safe and some studies show GMO’s may decrease immunity to diseases in plants as well as humans, may cause resistance to antibiotics and may have a negative impact on genetic function. Plants that are genetically modified to be resistant to disease, pesticides and insecticides could diminish the need to use these strong chemicals, or adversely, may build up a resistance and therefore require even larger amounts of chemicals than before. It is still too soon to tell: there is no long-term supporting evidence at this time.
Excerpted from a post in the January 2008 issue fooddemocracy.com by Kelly Scotti, and supplemented with information by the Center for Science in the Public Interest http://www.cspinet.org/reports/ chemcuisine.htm

Sheila Petersen - Health & Lifestyle Coach

www.lifeelemental.com 312.498.2344 sheila@lifeelemental.com

Most and Least Contaminated Produce
Many people can’t afford to buy all organic all the time. But you don’t have to buy all organic produce to reduce your risk for chemical contamination. This list from the Environmental Working Group tells you which fruits and vegetables contain the most chemicals and which ones are least contaminated. Use it when shopping to help make the best choices for you and your family – even if you can’t buy entirely organic foods.

12 Most Contaminated / Dirty DozenTM 1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (Imported) 7. Grapes (Imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (Domestic) 11. Lettuce
12. Kale / collard greens

15 Least Contaminated / Clean 15TM 1. Onions
2. Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe (Domestic) 10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms
Source: Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org

Sheila Petersen - Health & Lifestyle Coach

www.lifeelemental.com 312.498.2344 sheila@lifeelemental.com 

Six Steps to Empower Yourself Today

Here are six steps you need to take to go from #hopelessness to #self-empowerment:

1. Understand that 'your' thinking creates 'your' world. What you think, you will become. Pay attention to your thoughts. Try to become aware of all of the thoughts floating around in your mind. By being alert to what thoughts you entertain on a daily basis ask yourself is the glass half empty or half full?

2. Talk up your inner voice. Sometimes we have critical inner voices. It doesn't take much to shift our mood and that is a sign that we are out of alignment. To #change that, affirm a positive statement that is opposite to whatever #criticism your sensing from your inner voice. Repeat this #positive statement twenty times to override the #negative statement. Start your day with I am ______________________.  (You fill in the blank.) When you feel off track, remember this intention and repeat until you feel back on track. Happy place.  Happy place.

3. Go within. You need to learn to trust your gut sometimes. Even if you make mistakes, you will learn from them (maybe not right away, but you will) rather than listening to someone else. Wait for it.....ah, personal growth.

4. Find some inspiration. If your friends are negative you will sooner or later buy into their disempowering view of the world (maybe you have already done so). To get your balance back, listen to empowering audiobooks, music or meditation CD's. One of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sQ0DTF2tAM

5. Negative, Party of 1.  You become the five people you surround yourself by. The words of other people are so powerful that one short sentence carelessly thrown by your friend can totally destroy your chances to succeed.  Who do you surround yourself by?

6. Skip the tube. TV, newspapers and magazines love to feed your mind with the most horrible information you can find: suicides, unemployment, human cruelty and so on. To make sure you stay in control of where you are headed in life, avoid negative information as much as you can and focus on what you love and on the right actions to achieve your goals.  

Life is a practice.  Cheers to getting started.  Need more support?  Schedule a money back guaranteed appointment at www.lifeelemental.com

Sheila

sheila@lifeelemental.com

www.lifeelemental.com

lovechange

Welcome and thank you for taking the time to visit my blog to learn more about lovechange and what you can do to free yourself of that which does not serve you in your mind, in your body and in your soul.

As you may know, I'm Sheila. I'm a Health & Lifestyle Coach and founder of Life Elemental.com. I help women upgrade to a happier, better feeling and more successful self in six months guaranteed or your money back.

February is the month for love, or so Hallmark says. That said, I love acronyms and for that last 2 years, I have created an idea using the letters in lovechange to help women understand that sometimes change is the best thing one can experience. Often times change is associated with negativity. It doesn't have to be this way. Sometimes amongst the chaos is our true learning experience which propels us into action and amazing change for the better.

For each day of the month we will focus on things that nourish us in our lives be it the food we find on our plate or off our plate such as money, time management, relationship, career and spirituality.

For the next twenty-eight days, I will post ideas to social media outlets that will help you fall in love with changing something for you, albeit it thoughts, beliefs, patterns and habits that no longer serve you and seeing things from a different perspective. I once heard a quote "people who are positive see opportunity, people who are negative see problems".

Beginning February 1-14, we will focus on mindset techniques, writing exercises and activities you can practice to shift your perception of the mundane and expecting different results. From February 15 -28, we will focus on nutrition tips that will allow your body to be nourished to the gills.

All of this virtual value is absolutely free to you.  Tell your friends, co-workers especially and family members not to miss out on this exciting month of lovechange.  That's not all.  Just for your participating in liking, sharing or commenting on daily posts will give you one entry into winning prizes such as free coaching sessions and my favorite healthy products to help you lose weight, become more positive, have more natural sustainable energy throughout the day, help you sleep better at night and tips on preventing colds and flus.  Are you in?  Contests and drawings will be noted in specific posts.  So check in daily at 1:43pm to be the first to enter. For now, visit my www.facebook.com/lifeelemental page now and let's start spreading some love together.

Sheila
sheila@lifeelemental.com
www.lifeelemental.com