| You may be familiar with the expression "We are | | | | sensitivity reaction, so he was glad I had wisely |
| what we think" but I also strongly believe "We | | | | checked the ingredients. |
| are what we eat." The simplest way to begin | | | | Shorter ingredient lists often (but not always) |
| improving one's eating habits is to start reading | | | | mean less processing and therefore healthier |
| ingredient labels. It is time to find out what you | | | | foods. For my own healthy lifestyle, I minimize |
| are actually eating! I subscribe to the theory that | | | | the use of canned and jarred foods. But when I |
| if the ingredient list is long and filled with | | | | do buy, I carefully check out the ingredients on |
| hard-to-pronounce additives and preservatives | | | | the label. One of my cousins is severely allergic to |
| then I would rather not be eating that particular | | | | peanuts and could actually die from ingesting |
| food! Extremely lengthy ingredient lists almost | | | | anything containing peanuts. You can only imagine |
| always indicate less pure foods, with more | | | | how carefully he reads labels! At restaurants, he |
| chemicals added. | | | | asks many questions before ordering to make |
| There are thousands of laboratory-made | | | | sure everything is clear of peanuts or peanut oil. |
| chemicals that are added to foods in order to | | | | Obviously, if you have a food allergy or food |
| lengthen shelf life or improve the flavor and/or | | | | sensitivity then you are already accustomed to |
| appearance. Some common additives are artificial | | | | carefully checking out labels -- your life may |
| flavoring, artificial coloring, Monosodium Glutamate | | | | depend on it! |
| (MSG), BHA and BHT. The last two (butylated | | | | As an "organic flexitarian," I encourage everyone |
| hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene) are | | | | to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables -- |
| considered to be potential human carcinogens -- | | | | preferably organic ones. You can tell if a produce |
| yet they are found in numerous processed foods. | | | | item is organic by checking the label. In the U.S., |
| Most of us are familiar with MSG, which is often | | | | organic produce labels are a series of five |
| used in Chinese cooking. However, it is commonly | | | | numerals, and the first one is a "9." Non-organic, |
| used as a flavor enhancer and added to | | | | also called conventional, are a four-numeral |
| processed foods such as dressing, chips, and | | | | sequence, the first number being a "4." Organic |
| seasonings. My husband has a sensitivity to this | | | | produce also usually has "organic" written on it, |
| additive. On a recent airline flight, I checked the | | | | but usually in very small lettering. So check out |
| ingredient list of the snack chips handed out by | | | | those labels when you are selecting your fresh |
| the flight attendant, and was quite unhappily | | | | produce -- and try to stick with the ones |
| surprised to find MSG listed. I quickly alerted my | | | | beginning with the number nine. However, |
| husband, just in time to stop him from popping a | | | | consuming any fresh produce -- even conventional |
| chip into his mouth! He develops severe | | | | -- is far better than scarfing down junk food! |
| headaches from MSG, which is a common | | | | |