Food Additives - What are they?
No really, lets ask ourselves this question. Let's ask it every time we go to put something in our mouth, because do we REALLY know what that piece of bread contains besides wheat, eggs, milk, baking powder, salt, flax and other "natural" ingredients?? If we make bread in our own kitchen we have a better way of ensuring the nutrients we add to our body are healthy. But with the rising concern from Monsanto and a dietary health revolution on our doorstep.... is there maybe pesticides in our bought bread... or maybe some sort of chemical that they also put in glue for binding purposes?? Who really knows right? We almost seem to be driving ourselves scared to eat. Here's the good thing about the awareness we are having to take these days about our food... WE are in charge of what we intake. Therefore, we can make good decisions by educating ourselves on what each and every chemical, preservative, food element name are on a food label. We don't want to scare ourselves to not eat... just to be able to identify the good from the bad and the bad from the ugly.
Well here it is, the reason life has gone a route to using food additives. I want to say BECAUSE WE OVER CONSUME, but that may be too correct. So I will tone down my opinion for a moment. Instead, the text book reason for food additives is to "have a consistently high quality" through its production to retail stores to our homes to consumption. So in short food additives are to ensure a longer shelf life. Compared to baking and cooking at home and lasting a week, the food with additives lasts for months. Hmmm, I haven't even begun to look up a food additive yet, and I am wanting to buy a cookbook instead of boxed food. My preference is to eat a moist fresh biscuit instead of a packaged puff of wheat that's more like sawdust. I have a feeling a packaged goods life would look something like this: made in Victoria, flown to China for packaging, transported back 2 months later by vessel, stored in Nova Scotia for a month, send by train to Vancouver over a 2 month period and finally arrives back to the Island only to sit in a cargo container waiting. Not to mention the fact that once it arrives at Thriftys, the pallet full of these biscuits will have stayed in the back storage room for yet another week. It would finally be placed on the back of the shelf until my turn to pick that exact box. All when I could have bought it 6 months previously just by driving for an hour and a half to get it fresh from Victoria. Mind boggling. (see reference #8)
So that is one major reason food is made with preservatives. To last long periods of time before being bought. There is a long list of other properties food additives are used for. Briefly, colours, emulsifiers, flavourings, gelling agents, preservatives, sweeteners, anti-caking agents, antioxidants and acidulants. (see reference #9)
Let's get our wheels turning by choosing one processed food. And then let's investigate one additive from the list of ingredients. This might shine some light on what actually goes into our food. We should ask questions like: Why the additive was made originally, was it actually meant for food, is it safe, is it healthy, or should we avoid it from this point on? We can always improve our health, and being aware and taking action and promoting healthier lifestyles for our friends and family and self can be as simple as reading the back of a food box. So here we go... My absolute favorite food to snack on is Doritos, if they are in front of me my willpower is gone. So why not give ourselves the chance to say NO to that evil bag of chips. Let's find out what kind of additives are contained in that tasty bag of crunchy, mouth watering, "more" tasting chips. The ingredient:
Disodium Guanylate
That's a mouthful. Let's just break it down into its chemical formula and dive a little bit further into what it actually is: C10H12N5Na2O8P or disodium [(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(2-amino-6-oxo-3H-purin-9-yl)-3,4-dihydroxy-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]methyl phosphate. Disodium Guanylate is a product that is produced mostly from fish and seaweed to create an additive that will make our mouths and brains think that what we are eating is fulfilling and mouth watering. Our minds receive that mental nudge to eat more. Disodium Guanylate has been created to be used as a "healthier" variety of food additive than MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). It isn't a big surprise that Disodium Guanylate was created, since we all know MSG has been banned by many countries for its health risks. But take a sigh of relief, Disodium Guanylate has not been known to cause any serious health issues. However Disodium Guanylate does bare health warnings once investigated. There are concerns that people with gout or asthma may become sick, and it is to be strictly avoided by babies as it causes hyperactivity, insomnia, and is a food allergen. I myself seldom let my kids eat any kind of chips or candy for that matter... but on occasion I cave or it cannot be stopped when we are out. I'm sure the majority of parents and caregivers have let their kids eat chips. I find it scary that a bag of Doritos (or any food manufacturer that uses Disodium Guanylate) have no warning about the possible health effects caused by the additive. From now on, I will not feel like such a meanie for saying "No you may not have junk food chips, they truly are bad for you" to my kids. Also, I will think twice before buying myself a bag of chips, because our youth learn from our example. Our example of eating healthy is going to have to change again. It will soon be not eating out of bagged or boxed food at all. That may sound crazy, but think of it this way, Disodium Guanylate is just one ingredient on the back of a Doritos bag. What are all of the other chemicals that we don't know or understand. The solution is to buy local ingredients and try cooking as a family. We have lost touch with what we eat, just as we have become a fast paced society, and many have lost touch within their own families. Being aware is the first step to a lifestyle change. And don't we owe it to ourselves and to our families to be happy, to be healthy. I really don't think it is that crazy to stop eating additives that make our food last for months and our bodies pay the price. Do you??? (see reference #10)
I found the broad list of foods very strange that contained Disodium Guanylate: Nutrigrain bars, smoked ham, Mr. Noodles, Motts Juices, Ranch salad dressing, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chips Ahoy cookies, imitation crab meat, Campbell's Soups, Quaker cereals, frozen pizza, and here is the SCARIEST... fresh tomatoes and health food products and medicines. The only other place that I found Disodium Guanylate was in the preparation of animal food, such as dog food. And the same reasons, to make the food more appealing tasting for the animal. (see reference #11 and 12)
DIAGRAMS, CHEMICAL STRUCTURES AND PICTURES RELATING TO DISODIUM GUANYLATE:
No really, lets ask ourselves this question. Let's ask it every time we go to put something in our mouth, because do we REALLY know what that piece of bread contains besides wheat, eggs, milk, baking powder, salt, flax and other "natural" ingredients?? If we make bread in our own kitchen we have a better way of ensuring the nutrients we add to our body are healthy. But with the rising concern from Monsanto and a dietary health revolution on our doorstep.... is there maybe pesticides in our bought bread... or maybe some sort of chemical that they also put in glue for binding purposes?? Who really knows right? We almost seem to be driving ourselves scared to eat. Here's the good thing about the awareness we are having to take these days about our food... WE are in charge of what we intake. Therefore, we can make good decisions by educating ourselves on what each and every chemical, preservative, food element name are on a food label. We don't want to scare ourselves to not eat... just to be able to identify the good from the bad and the bad from the ugly.
Well here it is, the reason life has gone a route to using food additives. I want to say BECAUSE WE OVER CONSUME, but that may be too correct. So I will tone down my opinion for a moment. Instead, the text book reason for food additives is to "have a consistently high quality" through its production to retail stores to our homes to consumption. So in short food additives are to ensure a longer shelf life. Compared to baking and cooking at home and lasting a week, the food with additives lasts for months. Hmmm, I haven't even begun to look up a food additive yet, and I am wanting to buy a cookbook instead of boxed food. My preference is to eat a moist fresh biscuit instead of a packaged puff of wheat that's more like sawdust. I have a feeling a packaged goods life would look something like this: made in Victoria, flown to China for packaging, transported back 2 months later by vessel, stored in Nova Scotia for a month, send by train to Vancouver over a 2 month period and finally arrives back to the Island only to sit in a cargo container waiting. Not to mention the fact that once it arrives at Thriftys, the pallet full of these biscuits will have stayed in the back storage room for yet another week. It would finally be placed on the back of the shelf until my turn to pick that exact box. All when I could have bought it 6 months previously just by driving for an hour and a half to get it fresh from Victoria. Mind boggling. (see reference #8)
So that is one major reason food is made with preservatives. To last long periods of time before being bought. There is a long list of other properties food additives are used for. Briefly, colours, emulsifiers, flavourings, gelling agents, preservatives, sweeteners, anti-caking agents, antioxidants and acidulants. (see reference #9)
Let's get our wheels turning by choosing one processed food. And then let's investigate one additive from the list of ingredients. This might shine some light on what actually goes into our food. We should ask questions like: Why the additive was made originally, was it actually meant for food, is it safe, is it healthy, or should we avoid it from this point on? We can always improve our health, and being aware and taking action and promoting healthier lifestyles for our friends and family and self can be as simple as reading the back of a food box. So here we go... My absolute favorite food to snack on is Doritos, if they are in front of me my willpower is gone. So why not give ourselves the chance to say NO to that evil bag of chips. Let's find out what kind of additives are contained in that tasty bag of crunchy, mouth watering, "more" tasting chips. The ingredient:
Disodium Guanylate
That's a mouthful. Let's just break it down into its chemical formula and dive a little bit further into what it actually is: C10H12N5Na2O8P or disodium [(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(2-amino-6-oxo-3H-purin-9-yl)-3,4-dihydroxy-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]methyl phosphate. Disodium Guanylate is a product that is produced mostly from fish and seaweed to create an additive that will make our mouths and brains think that what we are eating is fulfilling and mouth watering. Our minds receive that mental nudge to eat more. Disodium Guanylate has been created to be used as a "healthier" variety of food additive than MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). It isn't a big surprise that Disodium Guanylate was created, since we all know MSG has been banned by many countries for its health risks. But take a sigh of relief, Disodium Guanylate has not been known to cause any serious health issues. However Disodium Guanylate does bare health warnings once investigated. There are concerns that people with gout or asthma may become sick, and it is to be strictly avoided by babies as it causes hyperactivity, insomnia, and is a food allergen. I myself seldom let my kids eat any kind of chips or candy for that matter... but on occasion I cave or it cannot be stopped when we are out. I'm sure the majority of parents and caregivers have let their kids eat chips. I find it scary that a bag of Doritos (or any food manufacturer that uses Disodium Guanylate) have no warning about the possible health effects caused by the additive. From now on, I will not feel like such a meanie for saying "No you may not have junk food chips, they truly are bad for you" to my kids. Also, I will think twice before buying myself a bag of chips, because our youth learn from our example. Our example of eating healthy is going to have to change again. It will soon be not eating out of bagged or boxed food at all. That may sound crazy, but think of it this way, Disodium Guanylate is just one ingredient on the back of a Doritos bag. What are all of the other chemicals that we don't know or understand. The solution is to buy local ingredients and try cooking as a family. We have lost touch with what we eat, just as we have become a fast paced society, and many have lost touch within their own families. Being aware is the first step to a lifestyle change. And don't we owe it to ourselves and to our families to be happy, to be healthy. I really don't think it is that crazy to stop eating additives that make our food last for months and our bodies pay the price. Do you??? (see reference #10)
I found the broad list of foods very strange that contained Disodium Guanylate: Nutrigrain bars, smoked ham, Mr. Noodles, Motts Juices, Ranch salad dressing, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chips Ahoy cookies, imitation crab meat, Campbell's Soups, Quaker cereals, frozen pizza, and here is the SCARIEST... fresh tomatoes and health food products and medicines. The only other place that I found Disodium Guanylate was in the preparation of animal food, such as dog food. And the same reasons, to make the food more appealing tasting for the animal. (see reference #11 and 12)
DIAGRAMS, CHEMICAL STRUCTURES AND PICTURES RELATING TO DISODIUM GUANYLATE:
References
1. chemical property pic: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disodium_guanylate_3D_spacefill.png
2. chemical property pic: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Disodium_guanylate.png
3. ingredients back of bag pic: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/nola76/Screenshot2010-03-24at125129PM.png&imgrefurl=http://laraadler.com/parents/nyc-school-systems-push-pop-tarts-doritos&h=533&w=443&sz=117&tbnid=Se0hglAaBe48mM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=114&zoom=1&usg=__GDq4x84DR9DH-z-P3baU3vhxGG8=&docid=Zid2RvyBMi7fzM&sa=X&ei=9kuUUv-KKZPToASzvoHwAw&ved=0CD8Q9QEwCQ
4. open bag doritos pic: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nacozinhacomlurdinha.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Doritos.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nacozinhacomlurdinha.com.br/doritos-caseiros/&h=600&w=800&sz=365&tbnid=gAhIouC8hfas4M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=152&zoom=1&usg=__0j00Z5QEUQHA7BcUgZHbPvfAE_4=&docid=ZJrdze7oOntsxM&sa=X&ei=JEuUUqHnI4b2oASap4CoCw&ved=0CEMQ9QEwCg
5. doritos cover of bag pic: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://files.joshmadison.net/doritos-collisions.jpg&imgrefurl=http://joshmadison.com/tag/doritos/&h=562&w=400&sz=108&tbnid=02Cx1B8VDCBwgM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=81&zoom=1&usg=__TTgRN9zAyZzmjaA9SnIN8xLPyMA=&docid=ZbOSQZFF762IGM&sa=X&ei=JEuUUqHnI4b2oASap4CoCw&ved=0CD8Q9QEwCA
6. intensity flavour chart: http://www.google.com/patents/EP2255679A1
7. disodium guanylate joke pic: http://www.rottenecards.com/card/225111/yum-msg-tbhq-hydrogenated-oil-disodium-guanylate-and-red-5my-favorite
8. manufacturer quote about quality products: (http://www.understandingfoodadditives.org/pages/Ch2p0.htm)
9. relation to preservatives: (http://www.understandingfoodadditives.org/pages/Ch2p0.htm).
10. health risks and chemical make up: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disodium_guanylate)
11. pet food related to disodium guanylate: (http://www.ahimsarescuefoundation.org/pet-care/pet-food/80-52glossary-of-pet-food-ingredients)
12. list of brands and kinds of foods that contain disodium guanylate: (https://www.google.ca/search?q=pictures+of+disodium+guanylate&client=firefox-a&hs=qvh&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Tt6aUoTjGqTBigLByICYBg&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=639).
