Are You Eating GRAS?
 
 
 
Do you look at the labels of any processed food and not know what certain ingredients are? Are you aware that the list you are reading is not telling you everything that is added to the package? Processed foods are products that are produced or manufactured, come conveniently packaged in a can, plastic, etc., it keeps forever, instant results, artificially flavored (or added “natural” flavor), always the same, dull, bland, an no connection to land or culture.
 
What are missing from some of the ingredient lists are ingredients that are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). This means that the FDA has allowed these ingredients of that compound not to be listed on food labels. The manufacturers do their own research on the safety of their products and you can now see that there are many ingredients that may not be as safe as you may believe.
 
Consider this list of what some may call “natural” strawberry flavor as an ingredient:
     
     Amyl Acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate,    
      anethol, anysyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl  
      aisobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl       
      isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac  
      essential oil,diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl
     ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate,
      ethyl nitrate, ethyl propionate, ethyl valerbate,
      heliotropin, hydroxyphrenyl-2butanone (10%
      solution in alcohol), a-ionone, isobutyl
      anthranilate, isobutyl butrate, lemon essential
      oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone, methyl
      anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl
      cinnamate, methyl heptine carbonate, methyl
      naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint
      essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, nery
      isobutyrate, orris butter, phenethyl alchohol,
      rose, rum ether, y-undecalactone, vanilin, and
      solvent
Does that sound at all “natural” to you?
 
Here are some Points on Processed Foods.
  •  If you can't pronounce the name of the ingredient, don't eat it - your liver won't like it.
  • The more money that is spent to market a food product, the worse it generally is for you.
  • Never eat anything with "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil in it.
  • The longer the shelf life, the worse it is likely to be for you. (The exception to this are seeds, nuts, naturally dried fruits, high-quality jerky and some lacto-fermented foods).
  • If it wasn't here 10,000 years ago, don't eat it.
  • If it won't keep your pet alive, don't eat it.
  • Avoid all fortified or enriched foods. These foods have been broken down and damaged so much that the manufacturers have to put vitamins and minerals back in them.
  • Avoid processed foods in general.

 Studies show that many diseases are diet related. You can improve your health and vitality by eating fresh organic produce, high quality meats and fish, and by avoiding processed foods.