Yes, I confess, I am a label nazi. It drives my husband crazy, when we go to the grocery store together and I have to scan the ingredient list before the item goes in the cart. There are certain things I try to avoid because they pose health hazards. Unfortunately these ingredients are found in many processed foods. Here are my top 3 "no-no's" in no particular order.
1. High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS. It's a sweetner in many products, because its less expensive than adding sugar, unfortunate it has been linked as a culprit to obesity and diabetes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup#Health_effects)
2. Monosodium glutamate or MSG. Added to many foods to enhance flavor, it can cause allergic reactions in some.
3. Hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils are found in many packaged foods. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogenated_oils#Health_implications)
If you avoid these three things in your foods, you will greatly diminish the amounts of processed foods that you eat. Whole, nutrient dense foods are easier for your body to metabolize and you can enjoy them knowing they are not full of artificial ingredients.
Thanks for the tip!
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