PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

This weeks PRODUCT OF THE WEEK is Wholegrain Brown Rice Tamari Seaweed crackers by a company called 'eat rite'. On their packaging they state that they are committed to using natural wholefood ingredients, having the minimum amount of processing and having low fat and salt contents. Whats really different is that they place the ingredient list on the FRONT of the package & in LARGE FONT!
These crackers contain just 3 ingredients: brown rice, soy (water, soybeans, salt) & seaweed.
Look for these in the health section of  your local Woolworth's store. Enjoy!

Woolworths Select Brown Rice Crackers

These brown rice crackers are disappointing for two reasons. Firstly, 'NO ADDED MSG' stands out on the front of the box but the 5th ingredient on the label states 'Maltodextrin' ( a form of MSG!).
At least there are No Preservatives, No artificial Colours & No Artificial Flavours as per the front of the box but  the side of the box states- 'Made in China from local & imported ingredients' ; 'Packed for Woolworths'.
Why can't we have such a product made in Australia?
I actually found such a product- will feature it tomorrow as my 'Product of the Week'.

Excitotoxins (cont)

MSG (621) is classified as a neurotoxin - our sensitivity is 5 times that of rats & 20 times that of a rhesus monkey. When scientists want to study diabetes they inject the mice with MSG to simulate the condition they wish to study. Since MSG has 52 alternate names it is wise to keep some of the following food rules in mind whilst shopping for your family:
1. Avoid food products that contain more than 5 ingredients.

2. Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry i.e Disodium 5'guanylate (627), Disodium 5'-inosinate (631), Diosodium 5'-ribonucleotides (635). (These additives may also cause ribo-rash).

3.Avoid food products containing ingredients that a Yr.3 student cannot pronounce OR that your grand mother wouldn't recognize!                          

(there are 8 forms of MSG in this product!)

WORST FOODS FOR CHILDREN (cont)

As some people stated three hot dogs per day would indeed be a very unhealthy diet & yes, unlikely for quite a number of us. However, we need to remember that there are still school tuck shops who sell these products & if the child has normal bacon ( which is not sodium nitrate free) for breakfast, plus a sandwich containing a slice of ham from the deli or pkt. ham , we have, perhaps unwittingly, served our child  2  serves of high sodium nitrate (250) food products.

Next on my list of products not to feed your children are those 'edible foodlike substances' that contain MSG (621) & other excitotoxins (627, 631, & 635).  I would need numerous pages to list all these products so I have decided to list the main categories: the flavour sachets of 2-min noodles; the majority of flavoured chips ( salt & vinegar, sour cream etc); shapes snacks; flavoured savoury biscuit snacks; numerous frozen meals.

Do not be mislead by labels stating 'No Artificial Colours, No Artificial Flavours'.  Because MSG & the excitotoxins are classed as  FLAVOUR ENHANCERS' , not just 'Flavours' , food manufacturers are advertising by omission- & by doing so, leading some consumers into thinking their products are safe.

Research shows that parents who place their children on a low MSG/ Excitotoxin diet can reduce the frequency of negative behaviours. (Erb, John).

FOODS NOT TO GIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN

Today I am following through on a request by one young mum as to which are the worst foods to give your children. I did state in my original response to her that this would involve quite a long list and several posts!
The first food that comes to mind are hot dogs.  Years ago I read a quote from Dr. Samuel Epstein, a renowned author & oncologist, that has stuck in my mind- ' if you feed your children 3-5 hot dogs per week you are increasing their rate of getting cancer by 300%.'  It is the sodium nitrate that is the worst offender here so I would go on to add that cheerios & indeed most manufactured meats are best avoided.

Recently, I cringed at a television add where  a pizza company was offering a new product- pizza's with hot dogs in the crust. These 'industrial novelities' are not fit for human consumption.

Nescafe Cafe Menu Mocha

Boxes of coffee sachets in an endless array of flavours have become a common sight in the coffee & tea aisle of our local supermarkets. As it always pays to double check the ingredient list on any food box I thought it was time to focus my attention on this product. There is an appealing cup of coffee with a desirable 'frothty'  top on the cover of the box. But what really lies underneath this froth? How real is this coffee?
Not very real at all! With only 12% soluble coffee and the first ingredient listed as sugar it isn't a pleasing start. Vegetable oil (possibly canola?) is 4th, & the 5th ingredient is Maltodextrin (MSG). This ingredient will help you become addicted to this product and keep you coming back for another'fix'! The 8th ingredient is 'flavour', which is another form of MSG. Cocoa is 3%, & two of  the three stabilisers (340 & 331) are considered safe. 452 (Potassium polymetaphosphate) is linked to kidney stones in susceptible people but is otherwise regarded as safe. The last (10th) ingredient is salt- give me a coffee made from organic coffee beans any day.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Goji Berries are high in antioxidant activity as measured by an ORAC test - 25,000 plus per 100g. One 10g serve contains approximately the same amount of antioxidants of  1 banana, 1 head broccoli, 1 slice of watermelon & 1 carrot.
Goji berries are great for a snack on the run, tossed through a salad, added to your favourite fruit & nut mix, or stirred into yogurt or porridge (in winter).

Enjoy!