I’ve included a link today—The 7 Foods Experts Won’t Eat posted by Yahoo. These are definitely something to think about. Here are 3 of the 7 in a nutshell. You decide.
Microwave Popcorn
According to Olga Naidenko, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, the lining of a microwave popcorn bag contains chemical compounds that are possibly linked to infertility. In animal testing the chemicals also caused cancer. Apparently when the bag is microwaved, the chemicals vaporize and enter the food. Once the food enters the body, it stays and there for years. The solution: make your popcorn the old-fashioned way or use a popcorn maker.
Nonorganic Potatoes
Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board, says root vegetables absorb pesticides and other chemicals that run-off into the soil. Potatoes, for instance, are treated with fungicides during growth and herbicides before and after harvesting. Washing and peeling the food does not remove the chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh. The solution: purchase organic roots. This potato information caught me by unpleasant surprise. I am thinking that I need to make organic potatoes a priority.
Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
Finally, Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food, says that milk producers treat their dairy cattle with a growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) to increase milk production. The hormone is known to increase udder infection and can cause an excretion of pus into the milk. It also may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers when the milk is consumed by humans. The solution: purchase rBGH-free (rBST-free), hormone-free, or organic milk. My husband and I especially think this important for our kids.
I new there was a reason I didn't like the microwaved popcorn in a bag. I much prefer making it in the little popcorn maker and melting just a little bit of Smart Balance on top.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so good... I need to get me a popcorn maker!
ReplyDeleteSo the question is... is it best to use organic corn? I've heard that much of the corn in the industry is a hybrid of some sort, engineered to "perfection". I'm not too sure about what the risk, if any, and how much difference betweeen ogranic and hybrid are. Is there organic popping corn?
Yes, there is such a thing as organic popcorn (even in the bag form, though that doesn't mean that chemicals are necessarily kept from the packaging). I'll have to research the effects of nonorganic corn. I'm inclined to think that it is not as bad as nonorganic potatoes that get to sit in the ground and absorb all the chemicals.
ReplyDeleteI can literally eat a whole bag of popcorn all by myself...I love popcorn! =) Especially when watching a movie (who doesn't?) so, the healthier I can make it...the more I can eat it! =)
ReplyDeleteJay and I use a microwave container that works as easily and quickly as any bag. It's also cheaper because we only have to buy the kernels. I want to research the material it's made out of, but it seems like a better alternative to the bag. We'll have to invite you over for a movie and popcorn so you can try it! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds good! Maybe we could have a popcorn tasting party! With a variety of popcorns of sorts... Stacy likes the kettle corn, but I think it's too sweet for my liking. It's ok I guess.
ReplyDeleteReading this makes me feel like it is complicated to stay healthy anymore. And expensive! Organic milk and organic potatoes are specialty items aren't they? Wow! They say when ignoranace is bliss tis folly to be wise, but I'm not so sure . . . .
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