Ingredients in highly processed foods....

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humbird753
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Ingredients in highly processed foods....

Post by humbird753 »

Tex, since I have no agricultural background, I am wondering if there is any validity to this article, or if it is over exaggerated.

At the same time, while reading it I am thankful I now eat whole foods rather than the highly processed "so called foods" out there.

I am just curious to know if this is really true?

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/13452- ... html?c=rtc

Paula
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Paula,

That's actually a chemical process rather than a part of agriculture, but yes, it's basically true. I didn't read all of the article, but it's generally true that most citric acid (and ascorbic acid) is made from corn, using a mold as an intermediate processing step. Many other food additives are made by similar processes, and these processes have been used for many years in some cases.

The authors give a twist to the article by implying that this is some sort of diabolical plot to destroy everyone's health, by using GMO corn, but this process was in use long before GMO corn came along. And if anything, the mold would probably destroy any GMO characteristics anyway, rather than to somehow mysteriously make them worse. So if citric acid is destroying our health, it's not because of the GMO characteristics of corn, it's because of the unhealthy properties of citric acid itself, and possibly some of the undesirable impurities produced by the mold itself, that end up in the finished product. Personally, I have serious reservations about the health benefits of by-products of molds, penicillin notwithstanding.

I consider virtually all food additives other than salt and pepper to be "adulterations" to food, and therefore undesirable, from a health standpoint. And citric acid (or ascorbic acid) is one ingredient that I still cannot tolerate except in relatively small to moderate quantities.

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humbird753
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Post by humbird753 »

Thank you, Tex, for your informative response. The more I read, the more I agree with you on additives to foods. I actually find eating whole foods so much easier, with the side benefit of feeling well.

:grin:

Paula
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"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
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