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Kelly, MyQute.com

Note: There is not a complete list so add your own (if you use this blog entry, please be kind to link back – that’s all I ask for. Thank you!) More information may or may not be extended to this entry (depending on whether I update the info!)

Here’s 60+ things you should avoid (you may find some ingredients in pet food as well!) I feel it’s best to ban these if you can by making gradual changes (set weekly or monthly targets to avoid certain foods). A small change in your lifestyle can be beneficial, not just to prevent thyroid problems or degenerative diseases, but also to prevent one organ adversely affecting another organ in your body.

Avoid foods and drinks containing:

1. BVO (brominated vege oil) and all vegetable oil and canned citrus drinks, some commerically-made bread and cakes, potato chips, snacks, and even in some brands of wholemeal bread with bromine or bromide (aka bromate, “Potassiam Bromide” aka “Potassiam Bromate”).  Bromine/Bromate are responsible for activating all kinds of degenerative diseases.   A century ago potassium bromide was used as a sedative although it is toxic  (caused coma, spasms, nausea, abdominal pains, etc). More info
2. Products with alloxan (usually in white bread).    This is the same substance used to feed laboratory acts to make them “catch cancer”.  Found in BLEACHED flour or “vitamin-enriched flour”, and any bread or confectionaries made with white flour.
3. Preservatives like sodium benzoate, ethoxyquin, preservatives of mixed-tocopherols, calcium propionate and TBHQ (or anything that “preserves freshness”).  Sodium benzoate (benzoic acid) occurs naturally in blueberries, and is perfectly harmless.  Scientists in China recently found that antioxidant-rich rosemary extracts are capable of inhibiting oxidation of sunflower oil -  this could just be a safer alternative to chemical preservatives but at this point, steer clear of any food with preservatives!  Source: Food Chemistry,Volume 118, Issue 3, Pages 656-662
   Ethoxyquin, another preservative, still in very cheap poor-quality foods and pet food.
   TBHQ, another preservative, contains petroleum-derived butane.
   Fruit wax (also another kind of chemical preservatives).  I found they’re not as waxy after washing them with organic detergents – you can just FEEL the difference just by touching your washed apples!
4. Calcium Suplhate is a “firming agent” commonly found in food.  It’s actually Plaster of Paris!
   
5. Fat-free oils and snacks with chemical “fat substitute” like Olestra.  The problem is, not all processed foods list chemicals like Olestra, so it makes VERY good sense to reduce or avoid processed foods wherever possible.  (EFT teaches you how to overcome certain food addictions and I highly recommend you to check out sites that have information on this.)
6. All or any genetically-modified foods (GMO) like Canola Oil; or any food products made with those.  Check out “50 Harmful Effects of GMO Foods” by Nathan Batalion
7. High Fructose Corn Syrup (made from GMO corn, why GMO foods are dangerous) because the syrup attacks pancreas, spikes glucose and causes weight gain.   Many amaranth and millet flake cereals contain corn.
   And do you know, our vaccines for “immunizations” have HFCS too?  One reason why I never quite make it in the Food & Beverage industry here!  Vaccines are TRULY genetically modified material (gmo).  Everything (almost) you ever wanted to know about GMOs are here.
8. Dextrose is sugar that feeds cancer, causes hyperactivity and weight gain.
9. Unfermented Soy products including soy milk and unfermented beancurd because they have toxic phytic acid.  Also, scientists have known for years that the isoflavones in soy products can depress thyroid function and cause goiters (aka goitre) in otherwise healthy children and adults. “Children who develop Type1 Diabetes are twice as likely to have been fed soy formulas as those fed all other foods.” – combined research team of Cornell University Medical College and Long Island Community Hospital medical experts.  Check out more soy info from Mike Adams’ Soya Bean News and my other post on Soy Lies.
10. Even FERMENTED soya beans can be harmful.  Soy isoflavones (in soy products) are phyto-endocrine disrupters. They can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and fatigue.
    How are Soya Bean processed? Alkaline solution is used to remove fibre, then precipitated and separated using an acid wash.  Then, soya beans are neutralized in an alkaline solution – “lysinoalanine” (a cancer-causing nitrate) is formed at this stage.  On top of this, acid washing in aluminum tanks leaches high levels of toxic aluminum into the final product.  That’s how you get your toxic fibre-less soy product!
    Many canned tunas contain textured vegetable protein, which is from soy (look for low-salt versions, which tend to be pure tuna, with no fillers).

    Numerous artificial flavourings, like MSG, are added to textured vegetable protein and soy protein isolate products, which gives these toxic soy products its “meaty taste”.  All vegans should be aware of this!   You can read more about soy here!
    Beware also, of studies that are funded by third-party companies like the Solae Company, who in turn works with companies like Dupont and Monsanto.  Their work involves using foods to change chemical messages in your brain (yep, genetically modified foods)! For example, you would be able to taste sour foods as sweet, bitter foods as non-bitter. In other words, foods that trick the brains! Do you really want foods that alters your mind’s natural senses and functions??  Often, such funded studies give you misleading information like this one here given to Stephen Daniels at http://www.foodnavigator.com/Publications/Food-Beverage-Nutrition/NutraIngredients-USA.com/Research/Soy-isoflavones-heart-benefits-again-under-question-Study that says “soy isoflavones (from unprocessed soya beans) have no effect on baby boys’ testosterones” – which cannot be further from the truth.  Refer to green text above!
    

11. Flouridated water, chlorinated water (Use a water filter with osmosis reversal system; however chlorine is not easily eliminated by water-filters nor by boiling.)  Definitely reduce swimming in chlorinated water, if you can.   [Unfortunately, government regulations are in place for many countries to have private and public swim pools to have clorine in them (saving water a priority).  The only way to help change things around is to petition for non-chlorinated water to be replaced by oxygenated water because germs and pathogens cannot survive in oxygenated water.  More info about "oxygen therapy".]
12. Be on the alert for Food Fillers binders, excipients, food polish & glazes and lubricants. Some of these are designed to make vitamin tablets “stick” together, others are designed to flow more easily frombetween stages of the vitamin-manufacturing process.   Rice Hull, Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Soy Bean Hulls , Wheat Flour, Wheat Bran, Starch, Corn Starch (terrible filler that causes several health issues including allergies) or other “cheap” fillers, can be harsh on intestines and cause digestive upset.
    A lot of fillers have sugar or cane molasses, making them unhealthy.  (White sugar by itself, can cause hyperactivity in children, and also diabetes.)
    One other common food binder is cellulose; although touted as non-toxic, it may include recycled cardboard in pet food! However, cellulose in most organic supplements are safe to consume.
    
13. Only eaten by koala bears (eucalyptus leaves), eucalyptus oil is not meant for digestion and will cause stomach upset.  In large quantifities, this oil is fatal to humans. It’s better used as a medication oil to ease headaches, colds, insect bites, etc. but definitely not safe for use on babies and infants who may accidentally ingest it via their skin.
14. Sodium bisulfate (used as food “disinfectant”).
    
15. Caramel colouring. Sugar-based toxic! Basically made from burnt sugar, or via ammonia process in food factories, caramel coloring shows up in sodas, breads, gravies and even in pet food. Scientists have actually used caramel coloring in lab experiments on mice to interfere with white blood cell production. In other words, caramel coloring suppresses the immune system. Why would anything burnt, like burnt sugar be healthy?
    
16. Thiamine hydrochloride is the cheapest, poorly assimilated source of Thiamine, Vitamin B1.  Collapse and death have been reported from pets injected with this.  Pruritus, Urticaria, weakness, sweating, nausea, restlessness, tightness of throat, cyanosis, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage into gastrointestinal tract have been reported.
    
17. Trace minerals (like sodium tripolyphoshate a synthetic version of Vitamin K, and potassium chloride). Potassium chloride is a highly corrosive chemical used to make soap, in bleaching, and as a paint remover. A potentially harmful source of phosphorous and once used as a fire-extinguishing agent, it is also currently used in pesticides, non-organic soil fertilisers and perhaps in some prescription drugs.  If ingested, may result in small intestinal ulcers.  Both of these trace minerals indicate lack of well-rounded supplementation that may have been depleted during food manufacturing.
18. Sea salt is used to cover up any rancid meat and fat.  What makes sea salt especially dangerous is its toxic refined sodium chloride table salt, which can cause kidney and heart disease, hypertension, etc.  Watch a video about sea salt episode #445 (and while you’re there, download a free ebook “HIGH RAW”!) Or follow Kevin on Twitter for great health tweets!
19. Dicalcium phosphate, used as a food texturizer and found in chicken feed, becomes toxic to the body.
20. Flow Agents and Excipients
21. Fish, although may have omega-3 fatty acid, fish may have high levels of mercury from contaminated waters.  Farmed fish may have poor nutrition themselves (fed GMO corn), and not healthy.
22. Wheat, even “enriched wheat flour”
23. Corn, Dairy that may be GMO, full of antibiotics, animal hormones and possibly pus from infected cow
24. All or any food with Excitotoxins, which includes MSG, Aspartame and all other sugar substitutes, aspartate, Cysteine, cysteic acid.  - Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D. (ISBN #0-929173-25-2)
25. Other food additives that should be avoided: Propyl gallate, acesulfame-K, white sugar and sodium chloride
26. Some “permitted” food dyes or food colouring. For instance, yellow dye 5 (Tartrazine) which is banned for usage in Norway, Austria and Germany.  Other toxic food dyes include blue 2, red 40and red 3 (cancer-causing),
    
27. Trans-fat in the form of French fries, deep-fried foods, shortening, or heated vegetable oil (includes food stir-fried with vege oil or heated olive oil). “Vegetable
    
28. ” are not “natural foods”, they are fully hydrogenated cottonseed oil and some soybean oil. A s they made in a way so as not to melt easily in room temperature, they also clogs up arteries.  Therefore, shortening including “bread shortening“, unhealthy.
29. Reduce (but do not ban) unsaturated oils from your diet.  ‘Problem with Unsaturated oil: tends to lower the blood sugar in at least three basic ways, damages mitochondria.  It suppresses the activity of the respiratory enzyme (directly, and through its anti-thyroid actions), decreasing the respiratory production of energy (causing respiration to be uncoupled from energy production, meaning that fuel is burned without useful effect).’ – Dr. Ray Peat
30. Soft drinks, energy drinks, diet soda or no-calorie but sweetened drinks are suspect (aspartame which is actually a man-made and therefore is “artificial” sugar, high fructose corn syrup in manmy sweetened processed foods also has trans-fatty High Fructose Corn Syrup.)  Health hazards of Aspartame listed in a $350 Million Lawsuit
    
31. MSG (with free glutamic acid and has similar effects to those of artificial sugar, aspartame). You can find aspartame (and MSG) in any products with “yeast”; yeast is also “hidden” in processed foods as “isomalt”, “natural non-animal extracts”, “autolysed yeast”, etc.
32. Synthetic or artificial flavourings, Flavour-enhancers
    
33. Synthetic vitamins, and vitamin and supplements that are not hexane-free. For example, beta-carotenes (natural vitamin A) in natural foods is never toxic unless chemically extracted for placing into another product. like your artificial vitamins (vitamins made this way are cheaper to produce for the manufacturers).  Vitamin extracted into another product, CAN BECOME “toxic synthetic vitamins”.  Another example…”tocotrienols”  (natural Vitamin E) versus n”tocopherols” (artificial vitamin E).   But is Natural Vitamin E good for heart health?
    While many media sources say natural vitamin E is good for the heart at correct levels, other studies indicate otherwise.  Who to believe? Your only option is to read more newsletters and come to your own conclusions. It pays to remember that while Vitamin E is not protecting against oxidative harm (heart health, age-ing, etc), it may be beneficial for those with diabetes.  The good news is, there is no way to get exessive vitamin E from natural foods.
    Another instance is the Gingko Biloba believed to sustain alterness and usually taken before academic examinations and driving tests!  While Gingko Biloba has been thrown out as a preventive measure against Dementia and Alzheimer’s, it is still an effective pain-reliever for those with neurological disorders.
    Vitamins are supplements that you need because of toxic polluted environments and processed foods – but they are never a panacea.  That is why it’s very important to eat a lot of foods in its whole forms, even when you may be taking GREAT CARE in choosing your vitamins.   Remember to choose only organic natural vitamins that are free from hexane and the other things listed in this blog entry like autolysed yeast, etc!
34. Vitamins and Food Products with Magnesium Stearate (Steriac Acid) and Carnauba Wax should also be avoided
35. Avoid any foods or cosmetics that has Titanium Dioxide, which is best known as an ingredient in sunscreen, but also used in thousands of cosmetic products and nutritional products.  Classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen ”possibly carcinogen to humans”… This evidence showed that high concentrations of pigment-grade (powdered) and ultrafine titanium dioxide dust caused respiratory tract cancer in rats exposed by inhalation and intratracheal instillation*.  CosmeticsDatabase.com lists titanium dioxide as being linked to cancer, allergies, immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity.  Titanium Dioxide is found in some brands of baby’s talcum powder!
36. Potentially carcinogenic white pigment added to pet food, known as Titanium Dioxide colour.
37. Fruit wax (also another kind of chemical preservatives).  I found they’re not as waxy after washing them with organic detergents – you can just FEEL the difference just by touching your washed apples!
38. Especially for those who eat meat, please avoid fake sushi.   Similar to textured soy meat (mock meat), fake sushi has very little nutrition because of its flour content, etc.    Projectswole.com has excellent information on this as well as on other foods.  Here’s a free ebook for your download, “Ocean Medicine”.
39. Avoid microwaved foods and why
40. Any GMO (genetically-modified foods).  For example, seedless grapes are considered GMO.  Possibly sold featherless chicken (also GMO!) The Doctor Within talks about 60,000 chemicals, genetically-modified foods, vaccines, allergies (a good read!)   GMO grown in the USA today
    
41. Be wary of any products with “oestrogen” or “hormones“.  For example, women past child-bearing age and women who had their ovaries removed do not need oestrogen.  My mum belonged to the latter group and developed breast cancer after being given oestrogen for her fibroids.  Hormones are not safe, when they are altered in food (most plant foods have no hormones anyway, so consider going vegan!)  Such harmful hormones (and other environmental chemcials) are also found in in the environment as revealed by videos from The Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research.
42. Be wary of any foods that have  isoflavone, like soya bean products.  Jill Schneider, associate professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,”In a study of hamsters, we found that a component of soy beans – isoflavones – significantly accelerated the onset of puberty in the rodents.  These finding are elevant because many babies who are allergic to cow’s milk are fed soy-based formulas which contain isoflavones. Isoflavones can act like oestrogen.”  (Please refer to point #30.) Revealed via Failure of Hormone Replacement Therapy (PDF document)
43. Brewers’ Rice - a waste product from breweries, cheap, non-nutritive filler can be harsh on intestines and lead  to diabetes.
44. Avoid foods that may worsen allergy symptoms. Avoid eggs, Crustacean Shellfish, Brewers’ Yeast, Treenuts, and Peanuts if you have an allergy to them.  Food allergies can be reversed with short-term naturopathy but for the time being, do not eat them while you’re on sich treatments.  Avoid Nuts,(including peanuts) although a good source of protein and zinc, you may wish to restrict these if you are pregnant.  Research has found that regular consumption of nut products during pregnancy, raises the odds of your child having asthma symptoms by nearly 50 percent.  And avoid Dry Whey, made from cows’ milk. (If you’re starting to feed your infant semi-solid puree, make sure to only feed one type of new food per week.  If there are rashes or other signs of allergies, you’d know what food your child is allergic to.)
    
45. Avoid foods with gluten because they can encourage and exaberate Diabetes. Gluten-free foods are also healthier for those with allergies and the Celiac disease.  Corn gluten meal can cause allergies and sugar imbalance.
    Breads advertised as gluten-free still might contain coats, spelt, kamut, or rye.
46. Do REDUCE MEAT (go off it totally if you can)!   Dangers of meat protein revealed via Prof. T Collin Campbells’ The China Study. If you have no wish to ban meat, here’s 9 principles to help you with eating lesser meat (from the health experts of course!) You’ll also find the “pleasures of non-meat” here for those who have cholesterol problems or ‘weak’ heart!
    

Avoid from Air, Environment, Cosmetics

1. Breathing in of fire retardants found in fabrics, carpets, mattresses etc.
2. Some nasal spray for asthma and ulcers
3. Toxic-laden cosmetics, skin gels, sun blocks, make-up, talcum powder, etc.  Here’s a list of toxics commonly found in consumers’ personal care products, even in famous brands!
4. Too much stress Learn to relax and get away from negative energies.  Focus on things that you can benefit from instead of on things that annoy you.  Some people have used EFT, Music Therapy , Yoga, Pilates and Reiki with success.
5. Avoid restaurants and eateries who have no concern of food safety nor your health!  In 2006, polydimethylsiloxane (silicone-based chemical used as an emulsifier and to stabilize cheese) is a non-FDA approved food additive which Pizza Hut admitted using under the guise of “food additive”.  Formaldehyde results as a byproduct when frozen silicone-sprayed pizza is re-heated in their commercial broilers.  I can attest that Pizza Hut’s pizza are not “freshly made” as I’ve had in the past bitten into one that was hot on the outside but cold on the inside!  It is not known how many people ate silicone!!  (Dow Chemical sold the silicone as “Dow Corning FG-10″.)
6. Avoid dust!  Jobs or areas with heavily-polluted air (and water). Keep your home (and if possible) your workplace clean.  Household dust will make a sick person feel sicker!
7. Are you breathing in Bromine from your clothes?  Bromine is a fire-retardent chemical that slows and often stops fires by interfering with the basic chemistry that creates it.  Your alternative is to support “organic fashion”.  Many clothes are made from organic hemp.  Miss Diana Russo, who I had the pleasure to know via Twitter, is an authority on this in Australia.  A little more expensive but may be worth the money as compared to hefty hospital bills!
8. Bromine-based hot tubs and swim pools because ingesting bromine via skin displaces iodine
9. Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides like Methyl Bromide (pesticide for fruits) and Phosphate Fertilizers (not to be mistaken with Phospate “oxygen is added to a mineral known as phosphorus”).  ‘Chronic exposure to low levels of contamination can be as dangerous.’ – The Florida Institute of Phosphate  Research.  The incredible thing about pesticides like Malathion and Chlorpyrifos pesticides was, they had shorter “staying power” (not effective at repelling pests)!  Yep, useless harmful toxics!
   
10. Avoid  use of non-stick pans and cookware
11. Avoid using these as they may have toxic chemicals, especially bad for pregnant women when breathed in:
    # Bleach
    # Carpet Cleaner Dangerous stuff in them
    # Dry Cleaning Fluid
    # Aerosols
    # Turpentine/White Spirit
    # Air Fresheners
    # Paint Stripper
    # Paint or Varnish
    #  Perfumes Many have the chemical Toulene, a known mutagen and sensitizer that easily accumulates in the body.  Triggers asthma attacks in healthy and asthmatic people.  Repeated exposure to toulene damages liver, bone marrow and kidneys, and affects the brain (slow reflexes).  If you find yourself losing concentration or suffer from headaches, perfumes may be the culprit. – “Making Sense of Scents”.
    # Pesticide/Insecticides
    # Antibacterial Soaps has triclosan react with chlorine (from your tapped water) to form chloroform and sometimes dioxins.  Both are cancer-causing. – Environmental Science & Technology, April 2005
    # Window Cleaner Toxic stuff in them
    # Toilet Bowl Cleaners You may find safer alternatives that do the job effectively (cleaning your clothes and deodorizing your home) without harming your health, children and the environment.
12. Using harsh chemical-based detergents to wash plastic containers causes BPA (Bisphenol A) to leak from plastic – another reason not to store food in plastic containers (if you do, store only COOLED food as heat is able to leech toxic BPA into food).  This is also reason why you should also consider using non-chemical detergents for washing dishes; many of them are eco-friendly enough to wash vegetables and fruits (double-duty non-chemical and eco-friendly!)  Plastics (Burning of and breathing in fumes of BHA; ingestion of  BHA via some plastic cups, bottles, etc)   More info
13. Avoid accidents that can be prevented.  Take preventive measures by being prepared for accidents!  Never listen to your music or iPod, nor answer your cell phone when you are moving, driving and walking, your music or call can wait!  Never leave  child in a bathroom to answer a call, etc.  Teach your children moral values by being role models.
14. And definitely avoid places where you know you’d get hurt (eg. waters heavily infested with boxed jellyfish, places where people are influenced by alcohol and gambling habits)

I know..the last 2 sounds like grandma’s advise but since you’re reading!  lol  It’s not very hard to avoid foods with questionable ingredients as you’ll find that most of them are from highly-processed or refined foods like canned meat, canned fruits, etc.

Getting a more healthier lifestyle is about making steady and gradual changes. You may want to add a few of your Belated New Year’s Resolution for this!    Like what Dr. Wayne Dyer said on Oprah Show,”It’s never too late to make your own New Year resolutions…and keep to them!”

Posts from Other Sites and Blogs
How to Rid Toxic Air from Indoors
10 Healthy Foods that May Kill You
Soy not so JOY

Disclaimer: This blog entry is NOT a source of medical advice and is not liable for any accidental omissions. Any and all suggestions stem from personal opinion and experience. Any and all information you deem important should be presented to your TRUSTED medical practitioner/vet for evaluation and incorporation into YOUR personal situation.