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:)