Me: So, y'know that whole "artificial ingredients" thing in foods...?
Dave: Mhmm.
Me: Why would we want to put ANYTHING artificial into our bodies?
Dave: Good point. (nods in agreement)
Me: Yeah. Gross. (shivers)
When two people are in agreement, sometimes no further conversation is necessary. So, needless to say, we do our best not to buy and/or consume any items with artificial stuff in them. This isn't really the hard part. The hard part is figuring out which "natural" ingredients are (and aren't) okay.
For example, we have the dreaded high fructose corn syrup. This is a "natural" product, thanks to the Corn Growers' Association's pressuring of the FDA, but I digress. The commercials argue that it's the same as any other sugar product and has the same effect on our bodies. Good argument, but that's not the reason it's unhealthy. I'm all for sugar in moderation.The reason we're not down with HFCS is thanks to a comparison of diets. One hundred years ago (or more), our relatives ate corn, if they could afford it. But, they ate it straight off the cob. It wasn't in a high percentage of every foodstuff in their pantry. Actually, most (if not all) of their food was actually REAL food (and organic!), with no additives/preservatives/crap. Today, almost any highly-processed product that you pick up in the grocery store reads "high fructose corn syrup" on the label.
Even our cows are fed on the cheap grass/hay alternative. When they consume vast amounts of corn, what are we then ingesting via our beef? You got it. (Not to mention the fact that they're not allowed to graze and roam openly...)
Studies show that the increased consumption of corn (particularly processed) can lead to many diseases with inflammation at their causes - from high cholesterol to strokes to heart disease. No sir, not to be taken lightly.
So, a big goal of ours is to eat more closely to that of our ancestors. We're not "paleo" since we also tend to rely on less meat in our diets than we used to. We're just more conscious. No wonder some of my favorite blogs these days are about the whole foods movement.
(Side note: As I was searching for a royalty-free image to use with this post, I stumbled upon a vintage poster used by the U.S. Food Administration during WWII promoting the use of corn, given its higher yield and greater availability. Maybe this is what pushed science to create HFCS and expand its use in convenience products. Hmm. Thanks a lot, Hitler.)
Joe and I did this over the summer...we were so good about eating more fresh foods and things without all that artificial nonsense in it. And funny {sarcasm} we felt SO much better physically. Go figure. It's a little more difficult for me during the fall/winter months because I tend to rely on "comfort foods" and I find myself feeling worse when I do. So good for you guys for trying to cut out all that junk!!
ReplyDeleteMel, you can TOTALLY still rely on "comfort foods" and be aware of what you're eating! There are a kazillion awesome blogs about eating "real food" (including *gasp* animal fat!) that include meal plans and recipes of all sorts. I particularly love "100 Days of Real Food"; 'tis awesome. Let's just say that we still enjoy soups, chili, roasts, etc during the winter, but are sure to include veggies (roasted veggies have the BEST flavor!!!) and salads to cut through the "ugh" feelings! There are even some less-processed ways to enjoy mac 'n cheese, believe it or not! We still strive to enjoy food; just not the non-food being sold at supermarkets. It's hard to avoid (c'mon, I still need organic cheese puffs from time to time...and just because they're organic, I'm AWARE that they're still unhealthy, LOL), but if we're at least aware, it's one step closer to a healthy, happy life.
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