Do you know what is in your food? Part 2

     So after a long list of not so good ingredients that we should all try to avoid in our food, here are some of the better ones! You may recognize some of these ingredients, which are found in a lot of packaged health foods. Some of the other common ingredients usually need some decoding.

Acacia Gum (also known as guar gum and gum arabic): This natural ingredient is made from the hardened sap of the acacia tree; it helps stick stuff together and adds important fiber.

Chicory Root Fiber: This is used to hold different ingredients together and also contains the naturally occurring fiber inulin.

Evaporated Cane Juice Syrup: A minimally processed sugar, this amber coloured liquid retains a slight golden colour and a subtle taste from the original cane juice.

Oligofructose: Oligosaccharide is an alternative sweetener derived from inulin, which is found naturally in chicory root. Often used to help provide a thicker texture.

Expeller-Pressed Ingredients (also known as Cold-Pressed): In this process, natural oils are extracted from seeds by mechanical pressure without the use or addition of chemicals, colourings, or preservatives.

Glutamate (also known as glutamic acid): Free glutamate is naturally occurring in some foods such as cheese, milk, tomatoes, mushrooms, yeast, and soy. This is different from MSG, the artificial flavour enhancer, a compound of sodium plus glutamate.

Vegetable Glycerin: This colourless liquid helps ingredients of different water content get along together (so dry ingredients such as grains stay dry, and moist ingredients like fruit stay moist.

Non-Irradiated Spices: Unless specifically stated as "non-irradiated," spices undergo a process of ionizing radiation to increase shelf life and kill bacteria. While this may sound good, many believe using gamma radiation from nuclear material goes beyond the level of processing necessary to make natural foods.

Casein (also known as sodium caseinate): This dairy protein can help hold different foods together.

Sodium Phosphates: These are normal and essential salts for the body that work as a natural leavening agents, helping make baked goods light and fluffy.

Tartaric Acid: This organic acid can be found in plants and is used to provide tartness in foods. 


Hope you found this information helpful!
Michelle:)

Do you know what is in your food? PART 1

     Do ever look at the ingredient list on packaged food and think, "What is that?" 
Whether it's a box of cereal, package of granola bars, can of soup, or any type of snack or drink, the ingredients list can often look a bit scary. It is important to be aware of what is hiding in your food, so let's take a look at some common ingredients that we should really try to avoid.

Bleached Flour: After it's milled and bleached white with chemicals like chlorine, this baking flour loses many of its original whole-grain nutrients.

Calcium Peroxide: This agent is used to bleach flour and improve dough strength, grain, and texture.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: This highly processed liquid sweetener and preservative consists mainly of glucose; it has been a common ingredient in many manufactured foods and drinks.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): This controversial flavour enhancer is commonly used in Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups, and processed meats.

Disodium Guanylate: This flavour enhancer is 50 to 100 times more potent than MSG and helps enhance flavours in snacks, sauces, and canned foods.

BHA (butylated hydroxytoluene): This chemical is  used as a preservative in cereals and snack foods.

BHT (butylated hydroxyanisole): This chemical is added to foods to preserve fats and keep them from turning rancid.

Aspartame: This artificial sweetener used in diet soft drinks and chewing gum is 180 times sweeter than sugar.

Partially Hydrogenated Oil: This oil has been partially hardened through chemical means and contributes trans fats to foods.

Polydextrose: This chemically created additive is used as a sugar replacement and a fiber supplement in many foods.

Potassium Sorbate: This food preservative is used to hinder the growth of mold and yeast.

Silicon Dioxide: A synthetic substance used to keep powdered foods flowing smoothly without congealing.

Sodium Benzoate: This chemical preservative is used most prevalently in acidic foods like salad dressings, carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and condiments.


     This was a brief overview of some bad ingredients and preservatives that we should all try to avoid. 
Part 2 of  "Do you know what is in your food?" will try and decode some of the good ingredients that are safe and available in many health foods on the market.

Michelle:)