Food for thought re nitrites and msg

[senior citizen]

Food for thought re nitrites and msg in processed meats.....

What is "processed meat" exactly?
Here's the difference:

Fresh meat usually has only one ingredient: The meat! Fresh meat is refrigerated and has a very short shelf life (just a few days, usually). It's usually packaged in simple wrappers, with no fancy logos or color printing.

Processed meat has many ingredients and is usually packaged for long-term shelf life. These products almost always contain sodium nitrite, the cancer-causing chemical additive that meat companies use as a color fixer to turn their meat products a bright red "fresh-looking" color. Processed meat products include:

* Bacon * Sausage * Pepperoni * Beef jerky * Deli slices * Hot dogs * Sandwich meat (including those served at restaurants) * Ham * Meat "gift" products like Christmas sausages * Meat used in canned soups * Meat used in frozen pizza * Meat used in kid's lunch products * Meat used in ravioli, spaghetti or Italian pasta products, etc.

Unless it says "NITRITE FREE" on the front label, you can bet it's made with cancer-causing sodium nitrite!,

(Hint: You will only find nitrite-free meat products in two places in the grocery store: 1) In the fresh meat section where you can buy freshly-ground hamburger, for example, and 2) In the freezer, where you can find "natural" meat products that are nitrite-free.

What are the dangerous chemicals in processed meats? Sodium nitrite is one of the most dangerous chemicals added to processed meats. Please be aware:

* You MUST read the ingredients list to find the sodium nitrite! Meat product companies do not list this ingredient on the front of the package.

* Even ORGANIC meat products and NATURAL meat products can still contain sodium nitrite. So read the labels to be sure, and avoid buying any meat product made with sodium nitrite.

* Be especially careful of food for kids! Virtually all packaged food products containing meat and marketed to children contain sodium nitrite! (Read the ingredients to protect your children.)

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a second dangerous chemical found in virtually all processed meat products. MSG is a dangerous excitotoxin linked to neurological disorders such as migraine headaches, Alzheimer's disease, loss of appetite control, obesity and many other serious health conditions. Manufacturers use MSG to add flavor to dead-tasting processed meat products.

Essentially, dead meat products look and taste dead (because they are), so meat companies use the following three ingredients to make them look fresh and taste interesting:

Sodium nitrite makes the meat look red and fresh. (But it promotes cancer.)

MSG makes the meat taste savory. (But it causes neurological disorders.)

Processed salt makes the meat taste more interesting. (But it causes nutritional problems and high blood pressure.)

On top of these three chemical additives, processed meats also contain saturated animal fat that is often contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals, pesticide residues and other dangerous substances.

Protect yourself and your family. Processed meats promote cancer. There is simply no question about the scientific validity of that statement, and anyone who disagrees with it is either working for the meat industry or hopelessly behind the times on their nutritional research.

The processed meat industry, of course, insists that processed meat is perfectly healthy and that you can eat all you want. It's no surprise, of course: Big Tobacco insisted that cigarettes aren't really bad for your health and that nicotine isn't addictive, either. No industry is really willing to admit that its products are hazardous .

[asianthree]

never a problem we do not nitrite or msg any food always fresh from our back yard and our piggy and cow is raised by family

[graciegirl]

If it preserves the meat, it will pickle your innards. So in our house we don't have too many hot dogs, brats and lunch meat.

[KeepingItReal]

It's coming, it's coming........The Aporkalypse OOOPS! we missed it....

Yom Kippur & Aporkalypse - The Colbert Report - 2012-26-09 - Video Clip | Comedy Central (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/419512/september-26-2012/yom-kippur---aporkalypse)



On a more serious note: Some say yea, some say nay, about the same number of each.

http://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-not-to-fear-bacon

The Nitrate and Nitrite Myth: Another Reason not to Fear Bacon

In other words, your spit contains far more nitrites than anything you could ever eat.

When it comes to food, vegetables are the primary source of nitrites. On average, about 93% of nitrites we get from food come from vegetables. It may shock you to learn that one serving of arugula, two servings of butter lettuce, and four servings of celery or beets all have more nitrite than 467 hot dogs. (2) And your own saliva has more nitrites than all of them! So before you eliminate cured meats from your diet, you might want to address your celery intake. And try not to swallow so frequently.

[graciegirl]

It's coming, it's coming........The Aporkalypse OOOPS! we missed it....

Yom Kippur & Aporkalypse - The Colbert Report - 2012-26-09 - Video Clip | Comedy Central (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/419512/september-26-2012/yom-kippur---aporkalypse)



On a more serious note: Some say yea, some say nay, about the same number of each.

The Nitrate and Nitrite Myth: Another Reason not to Fear Bacon (http://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-not-to-fear-bacon)

The Nitrate and Nitrite Myth: Another Reason not to Fear Bacon

In other words, your spit contains far more nitrites than anything you could ever eat.

When it comes to food, vegetables are the primary source of nitrites. On average, about 93% of nitrites we get from food come from vegetables. It may shock you to learn that one serving of arugula, two servings of butter lettuce, and four servings of celery or beets all have more nitrite than 467 hot dogs. (2) And your own saliva has more nitrites than all of them! So before you eliminate cured meats from your diet, you might want to address your celery intake. And try not to swallow so frequently.


It is nice to have a scientist around the forum. I will run out and get some Nathans hot dogs for lunch tomorrow. Thank you Keeping it Real.

[senior citizen]

never a problem we do not nitrite or msg any food always fresh from our back yard and our piggy and cow is raised by family

You are most fortunate to be able to do that....and no doubt a lot healthier.

[senior citizen]

If it preserves the meat, it will pickle your innards. So in our house we don't have too many hot dogs, brats and lunch meat.

Same here.....just an occasional barbecued grilled "dog"....in summertime.

Very rarely, a BLT if hubby craves one, with minimal bacon on it.

Gave up lunch meats/cold cuts a long time ago.........
Try not to buy processed foods.......

People would be surprised though that all the convenience foods that folks do rely on "in a pinch" such as STAUFFERS which make very large casseroles of things like macaroni and cheese, lasagna, etc. and smaller packages of spinach soufflé.....all have msg in them.........

This is why, although it does take longer..........I like to make things from scratch from fresh ingredients.

But, again, "food for thought" as nitrites and msg are all around us at the supermarket.

It seems that the three "enemies" nowadays are indeed nitrites, msg and also high fructose corn syrup...... the food manufacturers are finally listening to the people who have protested that they do not want any of it in their foods..........still I have to be careful as oftentimes the msg can be disguised under a different name.

[senior citizen]

It is nice to have a scientist around the forum. I will run out and get some Nathans hot dogs for lunch tomorrow. Thank you Keeping it Real.

DITTO. I second that thought........

We have Nathans hot dogs in the freezer plus the big fat German hot dogs from Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks.

Nice big plump franks.........great on the grill......."occasionally", in moderation.

[senior citizen]

It's coming, it's coming........The Aporkalypse OOOPS! we missed it....

Yom Kippur & Aporkalypse - The Colbert Report - 2012-26-09 - Video Clip | Comedy Central (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/419512/september-26-2012/yom-kippur---aporkalypse)



On a more serious note: Some say yea, some say nay, about the same number of each.

The Nitrate and Nitrite Myth: Another Reason not to Fear Bacon (http://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-not-to-fear-bacon)

The Nitrate and Nitrite Myth: Another Reason not to Fear Bacon

In other words, your spit contains far more nitrites than anything you could ever eat.

When it comes to food, vegetables are the primary source of nitrites. On average, about 93% of nitrites we get from food come from vegetables. It may shock you to learn that one serving of arugula, two servings of butter lettuce, and four servings of celery or beets all have more nitrite than 467 hot dogs. (2) And your own saliva has more nitrites than all of them! So before you eliminate cured meats from your diet, you might want to address your celery intake. And try not to swallow so frequently.


The Chris Kresser report was very interesting............thanks for sharing.

[Villages PL]

Food for thought re nitrites and msg in processed meats.....

What is "processed meat" exactly?

About 99% of all meats sold in the supermarket are processed because processing starts when the animals are still alive. Animals are usually put in confined pens and grain-fed to faten them up before slaughter. So the saturated fat is marbled in the meat to make it juicy.

In nature, animals feed naturally on all kinds of plants and don't ever eat grain. This provides a natural balance of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. And they don't get antibiotics, hormones, pesticides or herbicides.

In addition, meats do not contain fiber and usually displace healthier plant foods that do contain fiber. So meat is not the most nutritious choice.

Animal protein in general tends to promote cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative diseases. This is said be the reason why Adventists have a life expectancy of 88 while the rest of us Americans only have a life expectancy of 78. Adventists are vegetarians.

[eweissenbach]

Yes KIR, thanks for the report, and thanks to SC for starting the conversation. The research findings regarding food are so confusing and contradictory that one doesn't know what to believe. My opinion has always been eat what I enjoy, with an attempt to eat a balanced and healthy diet and don't over do anything.

[BarryRX]

It is nice to have a scientist around the forum. I will run out and get some Nathans hot dogs for lunch tomorrow. Thank you Keeping it Real.

A little known fact is that saliva causes stomach cancer, but only if swallowed in small quantities over a long period of time. Only kidding of course. As I get older, I try to eat a vegetarian diet as often as I can, because it helps me lose weight and I feel better when I eat lower on the food chain.

[senior citizen]

Yes KIR, thanks for the report, and thanks to SC for starting the conversation. The research findings regarding food are so confusing and contradictory that one doesn't know what to believe. My opinion has always been eat what I enjoy, with an attempt to eat a balanced and healthy diet and don't over do anything.


I think you are definitely "on to something" as far as your opinion to eat what you enjoy, with an attempt to eat a balanced and healthy diet without overdoing anything........

...........or else, how can we all co exist with family and friends who show us their hospitality, or vice versa?

To balk at various food groups offered, especially when a guest in someone's home, is often seen as contrary. Too rigid doesn't work.

All things in moderation.........a bit from all food groups, would equal your "balanced and healthy diet without overdoing anything"......

Just good old common sense.........which we'd all be wise to follow.

Food nit pickers aren't very popular when dining in or dining out with family and friends.

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Hello,

I found this topic and the replies quite interesting.
Initially I thought I would respond more factually than I am, instead I am responding from my gut. Seemed like the responses were from individuals who spoke about them selves and not the next generation. That is where we differ.

I have children, g'children and great g'children. My concern is what type of food are they eating now and will be eating. How is the food they are eating now effecting them now and in the future.

Autism is on the rise, and their are studies showing it is related to the food they are eating, lactose intolerance is also on the rise due to the additives given to the cows to produce more milk, and the list goes on.

Check out baby formula i.e. Similac and look at the ingredient list. Our d-in-law may not be able to breast feed for a variety of reasons, our sons went and checked out baby formulas. You don't need to make a special trip to do this, do it the next time you go to the supermarket.

I am not worried just for my family, but for all children. Who would wish another parents child to be ill?

I could go on and on. I am worried what we are doing not only to the food we are consuming, but for the environment we have created.

I am old, and what I choose to eat I know what the possible effects will be. Children do not have that control over what they are given to eat, now the effect the food may have on them.

[graciegirl]

Hello,

I found this topic and the replies quite interesting.
Initially I thought I would respond more factually than I am, instead I am responding from my gut. Seemed like the responses were from individuals who spoke about them selves and not the next generation. That is where we differ.

I have children, g'children and great g'children. My concern is what type of food are they eating now and will be eating. How is the food they are eating now effecting them now and in the future.

Autism is on the rise, and their are studies showing it is related to the food they are eating, lactose intolerance is also on the rise due to the additives given to the cows to produce more milk, and the list goes on.

Check out baby formula i.e. Similac and look at the ingredient list. Our d-in-law may not be able to breast feed for a variety of reasons, our sons went and checked out baby formulas. You don't need to make a special trip to do this, do it the next time you go to the supermarket.

I am not worried just for my family, but for all children. Who would wish another parents child to be ill?

I could go on and on. I am worried what we are doing not only to the food we are consuming, but for the environment we have created.

I am old, and what I choose to eat I know what the possible effects will be. Children do not have that control over what they are given to eat, now the effect the food may have on them.

You may be correct about autism being caused by diet but I have read a series of articles lately that is linking it to "old eggs". Since young people are frequently putting off having children and their eggs become old, much the same way that Down's Syndrome is more frequent in births of women over 35.

They were puzzled about autism occurring frequently, but not always,to families that were well educated and affluent and found that those same families were waiting to give birth later, after they were financially established and their educations were complete.

I am not saying that this is a fact, but there are many contributing factors to a lot of things. And some we just don't know the answer to, or even the right questions.

I would like to live another hundred years to find out if my pet theories pan out..

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Hi Gracie,

As the scientist conduct more test they are finding more things that cause Autism.

They are also reporting that older theories are no longer true.

I sometimes feel I read to much, get disheartened, and more concerned for what we as educated adults are doing to our planet and the children who are on this planet.

I do not understand how the heads of business can sleep knowing they are doing things that will hurt others in the long run.

The last thought I wrote because of the tobacco industry. They knew it would hurt people, yet they found more and more ways of making cigarettes addictive.

Many of us know, or are related to people who died of lung cancer due to smoking.

How many companies do you think are "honest" in letting the consumer know about the "whole" truth of all their research. Look at what was just approved to protect Monsanto.

From what I understand Monsanto hired someone to decide if a report about their company can be printed or not.

[graciegirl]

I do not think that all heads of big business are corrupt, nor do I feel we can lay all of the blame of the world at their feet.

Many bad things are caused by people who do not make ethical choices no matter what position they hold.

Can you link me to the articles you have read that say food is a causative issue in autism and debunks the old eggs theory? I am really getting behind and someone is going to soon say I have old thinking.

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

You are correct about certain companies being ethical.

I had just read another article and heard a piece on what the additives in our food are potentially doing to us. The latter one was targeted for foods that are advertised for young children.

Thanks for pointing this out to me, when I read all of these articles I forget about the companies that are honest. I have read to much in the last week or so, learning more about Monsanto, Bayer, and other similar companies I feel disheartened.

[eweissenbach]

You are correct about certain companies being ethical.

I had just read another article and heard a piece on what the additives in our food are potentially doing to us. The latter one was targeted for foods that are advertised for young children.

Thanks for pointing this out to me, when I read all of these articles I forget about the companies that are honest. I have read to much in the last week or so, learning more about Monsanto, Bayer, and other similar companies I feel disheartened.

While I understand being concerned about all environmental effects on our lives, including food and diet,I think that there is a lot of self-serving intent by special interests in many of the diet related health claims in the literature. Let us not forget that while our ancestors ate all natural diets, their life expectancy was decades lower than ours today. Now, I realize their are many medical and environmental advances that contribute to the increased longevity, but additives and diet don't seem to be lowering the overall life expectancy. A lot of the concern these days, in my opinion, is the overwhelming amount of information available, both legitimate and non-legitimate.

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Hi,

When you can please watch this. I found it quite informative. A Mother looking at the food she is serving her children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA&list=PL90P2TbTW_Dm0lB2zAIXdahZmiZgz2ETh

[Quixote]

While I understand being concerned about all environmental effects on our lives, including food and diet,I think that there is a lot of self-serving intent by special interests in many of the diet related health claims in the literature. Let us not forget that while our ancestors ate all natural diets, their life expectancy was decades lower than ours today. Now, I realize their are many medical and environmental advances that contribute to the increased longevity, but additives and diet don't seem to be lowering the overall life expectancy. A lot of the concern these days, in my opinion, is the overwhelming amount of information available, both legitimate and non-legitimate.

Let me think: Who would more likely be guilty of "self-serving intent by special interests"? The owners/operators of the small organic farm in Pedro, or a company like Monsanto? I think that the answer is so obvious that it's a no-brainer! As far as Monsanto is concerned, perhaps the chickens are finally coming home to roost....

Can we consider the possibility that "additives and diet" may not appear "to be lowering the overall life expectancy," but they may have a part in preventing yet greater life expectancy. I emphasize "may" because I am just speculating; I don't believe that this can be documented.

[jpharmat]

Be aware and read your food labels. If it has more than 5 ingredients think twice before you put it in our body.

[JP]

I think there are more cases of autism, etc being diagnosed because people are more aware of it and seek these diagnosis's because there are monies available for "special education" and special treatment. I don't think you can prove there are more cases of autism when you are comparing to our past society where everyone new 'Jimmy' was a little 'off' but did nothing about it. It's a societal trend that everyone is a victim.

[eweissenbach]

I think there are more cases of autism, etc being diagnosed because people are more aware of it and seek these diagnosis's because there are monies available for "special education" and special treatment. I don't think you can prove there are more cases of autism when you are comparing to our past society where everyone new 'Jimmy' was a little 'off' but did nothing about it. It's a societal trend that everyone is a victim.

First, I agree that there are more cases diagnosed today, but the reason is probably better diagnostic measures and heightened awareness. To say that it is because there are monies available, and everyone is a victim, is cynical at best, and bigoted at worst IMHO. Perhaps I misunderstood your implication, and if so, I apologize.

[Villages PL]

Can we consider the possibility that "additives and diet" may not appear "to be lowering the overall life expectancy," but they may have a part in preventing yet greater life expectancy. I emphasize "may" because I am just speculating; I don't believe that this can be documented.

I think it can be documented if you look at large population studies like the one in Okinawa or Adventists in the U.S.. In places where they live healtier lifestyles, they have more centenarians and more supercentenarians per 100,000 population. Also, in addition to having a greater life expectancy, they have a greater health expectancy.

This is anecdotal but many times I have seen people fulfill the average life expectancy of 78 years but they had a poor quality of life during the last 5 to 10 years. This is largely because of medications with side effects and miscellaneous technological interventions. So it's not just legnth of life that is important but quality of life too.

At one of the USF health lectures we were told that the average 65 year old takes at least one medication per day. The average 75 year old takes 3 to 4 medications per day and 5 or more is not uncommon. This does not represent a good quality of life.

[rubicon]

It would seem that if processed foods containing nitrites and msg are bad for you the federal government needs to demand a warning label placed on every package as they demand with cigarettes.

Comparing previous generations gets tricky because standard of living changes, lifestyle, population growth advances in medical and RX technology age at which we marry, sanitation, etc .

Citing say Adventist diet as the cause of longevity ignores perhaps other important lifestyle attributes. In fact it would seem that diet alone is not enough. A person's desire for a healthy lifestyle include balanced diet, exercise, laughter his/her desire /determination to live a long life all factor in with the main and over-riding factor in my mind being genetics.

On a simple scale a dermatologist will tell you that those little tag, etc gaining ground on your aging skin were genetically engineered at birth to appear now.

While people can and should not caution to the wind our morbidity /mortality is primarily determined because of the limits of nature

[Villages PL]

While people can and should not caution to the wind our morbidity /mortality is primarily determined because of the limits of nature

The limit, so far, is set at 122 by Jeanne Calment.

[graciegirl]

I think it can be documented if you look at large population studies like the one in Okinawa or Adventists in the U.S.. In places where they live healtier lifestyles, they have more centenarians and more supercentenarians per 100,000 population. Also, in addition to having a greater life expectancy, they have a greater health expectancy.

This is anecdotal but many times I have seen people fulfill the average life expectancy of 78 years but they had a poor quality of life during the last 5 to 10 years. This is largely because of medications with side effects and miscellaneous technological interventions. So it's not just legnth of life that is important but quality of life too.

At one of the USF health lectures we were told that the average 65 year old takes at least one medication per day. The average 75 year old takes 3 or more medications per day and 5 or more is not uncommon. This does not represent a good quality of life.

Why not. Some people take medicine to remain healthy.

[Quixote]

.... So it's not just legnth of life that is important but quality of life too....

This is a crucially important point; thank you!


It would seem that if processed foods containing nitrites and msg are bad for you the federal government needs to demand a warning label placed on every package as they demand with cigarettes....

This is a great suggestion! However, (1) how many years/decades did it take the federal government to mandate a warning label on cigarettes; and (2) what can we expect from a federal government that quietly passes a protection for Monsanto law—rather than a protection from Monsanto law?...

[Quixote]

.... At one of the USF health lectures we were told that the average 65 year old takes at least one medication per day. The average 75 year old takes 3 or more medications per day and 5 or more is not uncommon. This does not represent a good quality of life.



Why not. Some people take medicine to remain healthy.

It would seem to me that graciegirl's question should best be directed to the medical expert at USF who delivered the health lecture. Villages PL, did the expert elaborate on this point?

[Villages PL]

[/COLOR]

Why not. Some people take medicine to remain healthy.

First of all, I need to correct the statement I made: The average 75 year old takes 3 to 4 medications per day, and 5 or more is not uncommon.

Your question may be difficult to explain, but I'll give it a try. I don't disagree with what you have said but I think it depends on the individual. Don't forget, I was not talking about you, I was talking in terms of the average 65 year old and the average 75 year old.

People tend to take more and more medications as they get older and I think it's generally known that ALL medications have side effects. Then you have to wonder why this is happening. I mean, why all the medications?

Usually, but not always, the first medication is for high blood pressure. And it has been noticed that people tend to gain weight as they get older, usually at the rate of about 1 lb. per year. Over several decades it can really add up. And this is generally the reason why blood pressure rises with age, although there may be other contributing factors. So, the doctor says, "Mr. Smith, you have high blood pressure and I recommend that you take this medication." Yes, at that point it's better to take the medication to "stay healthy" than to not take it. But the choice I prefer is to see the potential for problems in advance and either not gain the weight in the first place or go on a diet and lose the weight.

The same often (but not always) happens with cholesterol. As a person's weight goes up their cholesterol often follows along. So they will need to take a cholesterol drug.

The same goes for artery disease: As a person gains weight they produce more estrogen and inflammation. Arterial inflammation can cause heart disease.

Inflammation in turn can cause arthritis so you might be put on a anti-inflammatory drug and/or a pain medication.

Most degenerative diseases are brought about by poor lifestyle choices. Once you have gone down that road, you may not be able to turn back. That being the case, your best bet may be to take your medications. It's just sad that it had to get to that point.

[Barefoot]

I think it can be documented if you look at large population studies like the one in Okinawa or Adventists in the U.S..

Were these studies done recently? How large was the segment of population measured? I have heard of the Okinawa study over the years, of course. It is often referred to, but I don't know the details.

[JP]

First, I agree that there are more cases diagnosed today, but the reason is probably better diagnostic measures and heightened awareness. To say that it is because there are monies available, and everyone is a victim, is cynical at best, and bigoted at worst IMHO. Perhaps I misunderstood your implication, and if so, I apologize.

I believe this thread was about nitrites and msg and not about attacking other people. I stand by my opinion.

[eweissenbach]

I think there are more cases of autism, etc being diagnosed because people are more aware of it and seek these diagnosis's because there are monies available for "special education" and special treatment. I don't think you can prove there are more cases of autism when you are comparing to our past society where everyone new 'Jimmy' was a little 'off' but did nothing about it. It's a societal trend that everyone is a victim.

First, I agree that there are more cases diagnosed today, but the reason is probably better diagnostic measures and heightened awareness. To say that it is because there are monies available, and everyone is a victim, is cynical at best, and bigoted at worst IMHO. Perhaps I misunderstood your implication, and if so, I apologize.

I believe this thread was about nitrites and msg and not about attacking other people. I stand by my opinion.

Apparently I didn't misunderstand your implication.

[Villages PL]

Were these studies done recently? How large was the segment of population measured? I have heard of the Okinawa study over the years, of course. It is often referred to, but I don't know the details.

Barefoot, it has been said that Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head. As it turns out, that was just a myth. But if it were true, would you want to know if it was recent? Gravity is gravity regardless of when it was discovered. ;) I'm just pulling your leg, (sort of). :)

Your question is about the Okinawa study? I'm not sure as to the absolute number of people in the study. But I think I remember reading that they interviewed and examined over 600 centenarians. If that's true, that would make it the largest study of centenarians ever. More information can be found in the book, "The Okinawa Program".

Here are my questions for anyone who might know: How many people were in the study that calls for "everything in moderation"? Was it a recent study, and what was the result for health and longevity? ;)

[Barefoot]

Your question is about the Okinawa study? I'm not sure as to the absolute number of people in the study. But I think I remember reading that they interviewed and examined over 600 centenarians.

Thanks, I thought it was either 600 or 800 people. When was the study done?

[Villages PL]

Thanks, I thought it was either 600 or 800 people. When was the study done?

Search, "The Okinawa Centenarian Study", and you will find some basic information. It was a 25 year study that began in 1975.

I guess the most surprising thing is that there were so many centenarians who were in good health and still working their gardens etc.. Many of them never had any physical ailments.

It was proved NOT to be genetic. Second generation Japanese-Americans have the same rates of degenerative diseases as all other Americans.

[graciegirl]

Search, "The Okinawa Centenarian Study", and you will find some basic information. It was a 25 year study that began in 1975.

I guess the most surprising thing is that there were so many centenarians who were in good health and still working their gardens etc.. Many of them never had any physical ailments.

It was proved NOT to be genetic. Second generation Japanese-Americans have the same rates of degenerative diseases as all other Americans.

http://www.okinawa-diet.com/okinawa_diet/food_pyramid.html

I don't think you eat fish or eggs, do you VlllagesPl? And can you give us a link to the study that shows that Japanese Americans don't enjoy the same longevity?

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

For me, I enjoy doing the research to find the answers to questions. I learn along the way so many other things that I did not know.

I usually only ask for links when I can not find the answers.

Don't know what I would do without Google and other search engines. They have opened many a door that I did not know was there.

Just my feelings.

[graciegirl]

Can you tell me where you got the information that Japanese Americans are not as healthy as their folks in Okinawa? Also VillagesPl how do you back up the statement that it was proved to NOT be genetic that the people in the Okinawa study lived longer.

As you can easily see, I think that there is more to the genetics of the Okinawans long life than you do.

[graciegirl]

[

Fairly recent information on fathers being older as a possible cause for Autism.


Older Dads Linked to Kids' Genetic Risk for Autism and Schizophrenia | TIME.com (http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/23/older-fathers-linked-to-kids-autism-and-schizophrenia-risk/)

[Villages PL]

Okinawa Diet Food Pyramid (http://www.okinawa-diet.com/okinawa_diet/food_pyramid.html)

I'm not sure if that food pyramid is accurate or not because it doesn't say who sponsored the link. I'm not saying it isn't accurate, I'm just saying it's strange that no one is claiming responsibility for posting it on the internet. Why would someone spend money to post it anonymously?

I don't think you eat fish or eggs, do you VlllagesPl? And can you give us a link to the study that shows that Japanese Americans don't enjoy the same longevity?

The fish they eat is locally caught fresh fish and they eat it in small portions. The eggs they eat are from their own free roaming chickens(no pesticides, herbacides, hormones or anti-biotics). And these are also eaten in small quantity. Personally, I think it may be acceptable for some people to have one serving of fish per week (not fried) and 3 to 4 soft-boiled (or poached) omega-3 eggs per week. A lot depends on the individual, health status, family history and overall diet.

Perhaps a link can be found by using the information that the authors put in the reference section: Curb, J.D., and K. Kodama. 1996. The Ni-Hon-San Study. J Epidemiol 6(4Suppl.):S197-201.

[senior citizen]

Okinawa bacteria’ toxic legacy crosses continents, spans generations



by Jon Mitchell (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jon_mitchell/)

June 4, 2013 in THE JAPAN TIMES......
Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City houses one of Vietnam’s busiest maternity clinics, but hidden in a quiet corner, far from the wards of proud new mothers, is a room stacked floor to ceiling with every parent’s nightmare. In dozens of glass jars lie the bodies of deformed babies preserved in formaldehyde — some have no heads, others have two, several are so scrambled that their faces jut from their stomachs and their arms are where their legs should be.

The doctor who delivered many of these children was Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong. Forty-five years ago she was a young intern at Tu Du Hospital when the city was known as Saigon, capital of war-torn South Vietnam.

“In 1966 or 1967 I started noticing an unprecedented increase in the number of birth defects at the hospital. There were too many deformed babies to count. They were born in areas sprayed with defoliants by the U.S. military,” she told The Japan Times.
During the Vietnam War, the Pentagon drenched South Vietnam with 76 million liters of herbicides — including Agents Blue, White and Orange — in a bid to destroy its enemies’ crops and jungle hiding places. The U.S. government assured Vietnamese people and their own troops that these “rainbow herbicides” were perfectly harmless to human health. But it was lying.

Agent Blue, the Pentagon’s preferred chemical for killing rice crops, included a poisonous compound of arsenic. Among the ingredients of Agent White were the carcinogens hexachlorobenzene and a cocktail of nitrosamines. Agent Orange, the best known and most commonly used herbicide, contained dioxin. Categorized as one of the deadliest poisons on the planet, dioxin has a lethal dose measured in the millionths of grams; it is also teratogenic, meaning it can damage the growth of the fetus.

Dr. Phuong was one of the first doctors to link South Vietnam’s soaring number of birth defects to the U.S. military’s defoliation campaign. But even when the herbicide flights ended in 1971, the health problems continued to grow.
“For example, those who were directly sprayed by Agent Orange passed the dioxin to their children in their breast milk. Then the problems were passed from the second to the third generation through damage to the cells and the DNA,” Phuong explained.
These second- and third-generation victims of Agent Orange suffer from illnesses ranging from cancers and diabetes to autoimmune disorders. Maj. Gen. Tran Ngoc Tho, chairman of the Ho Chin Minh City branch of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, explained that 3 million people are currently suffering from the effects of herbicides in Vietnam — and the numbers are rising every year.

However, according to Tho, when these birth problems first began to emerge in the late-1960s, the government of South Vietnam had a special name for the source of this scourge.

“They called it ‘Okinawa bacteria.’ During the war, Okinawa had many U.S. Air Force bases, and American planes came from there to bomb South Vietnam. There were stories that the planes that used to spray these chemicals came from Okinawa, too.”

From 1945 to 1972, Okinawa was under U.S. jurisdiction, and during the Vietnam War the island served as the Pentagon’s forward staging post for the conflict. Used to train troops, store supplies and ship them to the war zone, Okinawa also hosted the more clandestine side of the American war machine, including at one point as many as 1,200 nuclear warheads, as well as a massive arsenal of nerve and mustard gas.

Given the presence of these weapons of mass destruction, the storage of rainbow herbicides on Okinawa should come as no surprise. Dozens of U.S. veterans and Okinawa base workers claim these substances were warehoused on the island and sprayed around the bases’ fences to keep back the vegetation, a practice also common in South Vietnam at the time. Although the Pentagon denies such allegations, many of these former service members have illnesses consistent with dioxin exposure. Moreover, their children — and grandchildren — are sick, too.

One of these veterans is Rick Dewess. A former U.S. marine stationed on Okinawa between 1969 and 1970, he currently suffers from multiple illnesses — including diabetes, ischemic heart disease and respiratory problems — that he blames on dioxin poisoning. He believes his exposure has also damaged the health of his children.
“Our first child was a miscarriage. Then our next try, a son, had a kidney removed and needed another two surgeries by the time he was 5 years old. My second son had problems with his spine and my daughter has thyroid issues,” Dewess told The Japan Times.

Dewess believes his exposure to dioxin occurred at Naha Military Port, where he was assigned to off-load equipment damaged during combat in Vietnam. He worries that this work put him in contact with dioxin-contaminated soil. Such fears were supported by a 2008 ruling from the Department of Veterans Affairs — the federal agency responsible for awarding compensation to sick service members — which recognized that another former G.I. on Okinawa had been exposed to rainbow herbicides while handling contaminated gear in the same circumstances.

A second marine veteran alleging dioxin exposure — and consequent damage to her children’s health — was Caethe Goetz. Featured in The Japan Times in August 2011, Goetz had developed multiple myeloma — a rare form of cancer usually found in men in their sixties and seventies — when she was 49 years old. She passed away in November 2012 at the age of 58.

During her service on Okinawa, Goetz was pregnant and often used to take walks near the perimeter fence of Camp Foster. She recalled walking through foliage that had recently been treated with herbicides and, on one occasion, even being sprayed in the face. “I didn’t think much of it at the time — I just wiped the liquid away,” she said in an interview shortly before her death.

As with the other veterans claiming dioxin exposure on Okinawa, the Pentagon denied that the substance Goetz was exposed to was one of the rainbow herbicides. But in a recent interview, marine Sgt. David Robinson, a member of one of Camp Foster’s maintenance crews, seemed to confirm Goetz’s suspicions. “I sprayed the base perimeter. When filling up my fogger [a handheld spray machine], a barrel with an orange stripe was in the stand. I asked the sergeant in charge what it was, and he said, ‘Agent Orange.’ ”

Antonia, the child Goetz was carrying on Okinawa, was born with a number of problems.

“I have deformed knee caps and then, at the age of 32, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The only family history of this illness is my grandfather, who was diagnosed in his sixties,” Antonia told The Japan Times.

Goetz’s second daughter, Catherine, also shows signs of her mother’s suspected dioxin exposure; she suffers from recurring infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, reproductive problems and a fused pelvis.

Antonia explained that these problems are now becoming apparent in the third generation of the Goetz family. Her oldest daughter has a defect with her eyes and was diagnosed with cataracts at the age of 10. Her young son suffers from developmental delays and a congenital problem with an artery in his neck.

Other U.S. veterans who believe they came into contact with rainbow herbicides on Okinawa also have children with similar diseases. Kris Roberts — a New Hampshire state representative who claims he unearthed a large cache of Agent Orange on Futenma air station in 1981 — has a daughter who suffers from health problems he suspects were caused by his exposure to dioxin on Okinawa.

Likewise, Joe Sipala — a former air force sergeant now leading veterans’ demands for an independent inquiry into Agent Orange on Okinawa — has also witnessed the sufferings of his children. While serving at Awase Transmitter Site in 1970, Sipala was tasked with spraying Agent Orange around the installation to kill weeds. As a result of this work, Sipala soon fell sick. His first child died in the womb, so misshapen that the presiding doctor told him he was lucky the baby hadn’t survived. His two surviving children were both born with birth defects — including a daughter whose deformed feet required multiple operations.

Even though the Pentagon kept information about the toxicity of these chemicals hidden, Sipala and many of his fellow veterans feel responsible for their children’s illnesses.

“It makes me feel guilty. At the time we didn’t know the dangers of spraying these herbicides, but it was my damaged DNA that caused my children’s issues,” Sipala said in a recent interview.

According to Heather Bowser, co-founder of Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Health Alliance, such feelings are common among former service members who were unwittingly exposed to poisonous herbicides during the 1960s and ’70s. “I struggled my whole young life watching my father carry the guilt believing he had caused my birth defects,” said Bowser, who was born two months premature and missing her right leg below the knee and several fingers — problems her father attributed to his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Bowser said that the scale of the second-generation problems in the U.S. is appalling.
“A 1986 report stated that among 200,000 veterans surveyed, 56,000 of their children had birth defects. But we have no idea how many of them are truly affected, because we have never been offered an open dialogue by the U.S. government,” she said.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence linking dioxin exposure to birth defects, Washington has been reluctant to support America’s second-generation victims. For example, while offering limited help to the children of female veterans who served in South Vietnam born with defects such as cleft palate, heart disease and clubfoot, it refuses to link their illnesses to Agent Orange; instead, it states that “these diseases are not tied to herbicides, including Agent Orange, or dioxin exposure, but rather to the birth mother’s service in Vietnam.” It is as though the country itself were somehow responsible for children’s birth defects, not the 76 million liters of toxic chemicals sprayed there.

As for the sickened children of male veterans, the U.S. government only recognizes one illness related to Agent Orange: spina bifida.

However, when it comes to Okinawa, the Pentagon’s blanket denials that Agent Orange was ever on the island prevents even this limited assistance reaching the sickened children of U.S. veterans such as Dewess and Sipala.
Goetz’s daughter Catherine believes the motivation for the Pentagon’s denials is simple: money.

“If the U.S. government admitted Agent Orange exposure on Okinawa, it would open a floodgate of claims for many generations to come. Seeing how my mother was treated by her country, I feel the government has dishonored all who served — it should be looking out for the people who defend our nation.”

Back in the country that blamed the birth defects maiming its newborns on “Okinawa bacteria,” Maj. Gen. Tho shares Catherine’s anger with Washington. Since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the U.S. government has repeatedly denied assistance to Vietnamese people suffering from dioxin exposure. As recently as 2003, the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam accused the Hanoi government of waging a “two-decade-long propaganda campaign” over military herbicides; the following year, the ambassador alleged Vietnamese claims of health damage were based upon “fake science.” Even in 2012, when Washington announced it would clean up its former Agent Orange storage site in Da Nang, it refused to acknowledge any human health problems and instead labeled the project as simply “environmental remediation.”

[Villages PL]

Senior Citizen: Does it matter what they ate in Okinawa?

The Okinawa Centenarian study lasted from 1975 to 2000. So the centenarians they studied, and many of their offspring, would have lived through the time period of the Vietnam war. And yet they were still judged to be the healthiest and longest lived people in the world. Obviously, Agent Orange could not have been an issue beyond the military bases.

[senior citizen]

The Okinawa Centenarian study lasted from 1975 to 2000. So the centenarians they studied, and many of their offspring, would have lived through the time period of the Vietnam war. And yet they were still judged to be the healthiest and longest lived people in the world. Obviously, Agent Orange could not have been an issue beyond the military bases.

Just a refresher article I found.......with regard to the diet itself.
Seems mostly fat free. They are allowed some red meat I noticed.....

We used to have a great Japanese restaurant in our town...and as I recall , the portions were always mini sized, served in teeny tiny dishes.

Our son is a big aficionado of sushi.....and actually, all Asian foods......

Although my husband would never eat the below foods.......I'm including a basic menu plan..........anyone who enjoys veggies and Japanese food could do this diet.

My personal opinion is that we are more than what we eat.

Occupational and environmental "toxins" and such will contribute to poor health.......not just the food we eat......however interesting the study may be.

If they lived on the outermost islands, perhaps a genetic thread ran through the long lived ones...



The Okinawa Diet Plan is based on the eating patterns of a group of elderly inhabitants of Okinawa, which is a collection of over a hundred islands off the coast of Japan. These people are reported to have some of the world’s longest life spans and best health.

Studies show that Okinawans who eat a traditional diet do not gain weight as they age and in addition their rates of heart disease are 80% less and of cancer are 50% less than Americans.

The Okinawa Diet Plan promises dieters that they will become leaner, live longer and never feel hungry by following the ten dietary principles of the Okinawan people. It may even help to reduce wrinkles due to the high antioxidant content of the diet.

The Okinawa Diet Basics


The diet plan is based on four groups of foods that are categorized according to their caloric density:


Featherweights e.g. green tea and asparagus
Lightweights e.g. fish and brown rice
Middleweights e.g. hummus and lean red meat
Heavyweights e.g. fried foods and desserts
The concept of the diet plan is on limiting calorie intake by emphasizing high volume, high nutrient foods with a low caloric density so the featherweight and lightweight foods will make up the majority of the diet.

It is important to restrict the tendency to overeat as occurs in Western diets. One of the major principles of the Okinawan approach to eating is to only eat until 80% full. If after 10-20 minutes you are still feeling hungry it is acceptable to eat more of the recommended foods if desired.

Okinawans eat on average 500 calories less per day than other social groups however the diet is not simply about calorie restriction but also emphasizes the selection of highly nutritious foods. The recommended foods are low in calories but high in flavor and nutrients. Low glycemic carbohydrates are included and these sustain energy and help keep dieters feeling full until the next meal.

Calorie restriction is a major key to increasing longevity however the authors state that this does not necessarily mean that dieters have to go hungry. Dieters are assisted to gradually phase into the Okinawan style of eating with an eight-week plan. This is designed to limit the feelings of frustration and deprivation that may occur when attempting to change eating habits too quickly and dramatically.

Recommended Foods


Broth based soups such as miso soup are eaten before each meal so as to reduce the tendency to overeat.

Sweet potato is a staple food and is recommended for its high content of antioxidants.

Other foods that are particularly recommended include green vegetables, edible seaweed, tofu, fish, brown rice and green tea.

Sample Diet Plan


Breakfast
Okinawan blueberry pancakes
Green tea
Morning Snack
Apple
Lunch
Sweet and sour mustard baked tofu
Steamed asparagus
Green salad
Baked sweet potato
Afternoon Snack
Raw vegetable crudités
Dinner
Miso soup
Shrimp and broccoli penne

[Villages PL]

Just a refresher article I found.......with regard to the diet itself.
Seems mostly fat free. They are allowed some red meat I noticed.....

We used to have a great Japanese restaurant in our town...and as I recall , the portions were always mini sized, served in teeny tiny dishes.

Our son is a big aficionado of sushi.....and actually, all Asian foods......

Although my husband would never eat the below foods.......I'm including a basic menu plan..........anyone who enjoys veggies and Japanese food could do this diet.

My personal opinion is that we are more than what we eat.

Occupational and environmental "toxins" and such will contribute to poor health.......not just the food we eat......however interesting the study may be.

If they lived on the outermost islands, perhaps a genetic thread ran through the long lived ones...



The Okinawa Diet Plan (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400082005/?tag=eded-20) is based on the eating patterns of a group of elderly inhabitants of Okinawa, which is a collection of over a hundred islands off the coast of Japan. These people are reported to have some of the world’s longest life spans and best health.

Studies show that Okinawans who eat a traditional diet do not gain weight as they age and in addition their rates of heart disease are 80% less and of cancer are 50% less than Americans.

The Okinawa Diet Plan promises dieters that they will become leaner, live longer and never feel hungry by following the ten dietary principles of the Okinawan people. It may even help to reduce wrinkles due to the high antioxidant content of the diet.

The Okinawa Diet Basics


The diet plan is based on four groups of foods that are categorized according to their caloric density:


Featherweights e.g. green tea and asparagus
Lightweights e.g. fish and brown rice
Middleweights e.g. hummus and lean red meat
Heavyweights e.g. fried foods and desserts
The concept of the diet plan is on limiting calorie intake by emphasizing high volume, high nutrient foods with a low caloric density so the featherweight and lightweight foods will make up the majority of the diet.

It is important to restrict the tendency to overeat as occurs in Western diets. One of the major principles of the Okinawan approach to eating is to only eat until 80% full. If after 10-20 minutes you are still feeling hungry it is acceptable to eat more of the recommended foods if desired.

Okinawans eat on average 500 calories less per day than other social groups however the diet is not simply about calorie restriction but also emphasizes the selection of highly nutritious foods. The recommended foods are low in calories but high in flavor and nutrients. Low glycemic carbohydrates are included and these sustain energy and help keep dieters feeling full until the next meal.

Calorie restriction is a major key to increasing longevity however the authors state that this does not necessarily mean that dieters have to go hungry. Dieters are assisted to gradually phase into the Okinawan style of eating with an eight-week plan. This is designed to limit the feelings of frustration and deprivation that may occur when attempting to change eating habits too quickly and dramatically.

Recommended Foods


Broth based soups such as miso soup (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=miso soup&tag=edsearch-20&index=aps&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) are eaten before each meal so as to reduce the tendency to overeat.

Sweet potato is a staple food and is recommended for its high content of antioxidants.

Other foods that are particularly recommended include green vegetables, edible seaweed (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=edible seaweed&tag=edsearch-20&index=aps&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325), tofu, fish, brown rice and green tea.

Sample Diet Plan


Breakfast
Okinawan blueberry pancakes
Green tea
Morning Snack
Apple
Lunch
Sweet and sour mustard baked tofu
Steamed asparagus
Green salad
Baked sweet potato
Afternoon Snack
Raw vegetable crudités
Dinner
Miso soup
Shrimp and broccoli penne

To help put things in perspective, here's a comparison of two of the most important aspects between The Okinawan Elder's diet and the American Diet. Percentages are by weight.

Americans eat much more animal protein:.Total: 52%
Okinawans eat a lot less animal protein:...Total: 15%

Americans generally don't like vegetables: Total 16%
Okinawans eat more than twice as much:..Total 34%

So the key to good health is to eat more plant foods and less animal protein, just like Adventists are doing. And, of course, calorie restriction by avoiding processed foods and desserts.

[FloridaShrimp]

Food for thought re nitrites and msg in processed meats.....

What is "processed meat" exactly?
Here's the difference:

Fresh meat usually has only one ingredient: The meat! Fresh meat is refrigerated and has a very short shelf life (just a few days, usually). It's usually packaged in simple wrappers, with no fancy logos or color printing.

Processed meat has many ingredients and is usually packaged for long-term shelf life. These products almost always contain sodium nitrite, the cancer-causing chemical additive that meat companies use as a color fixer to turn their meat products a bright red "fresh-looking" color. Processed meat products include:

* Bacon * Sausage * Pepperoni * Beef jerky * Deli slices * Hot dogs * Sandwich meat (including those served at restaurants) * Ham * Meat "gift" products like Christmas sausages * Meat used in canned soups * Meat used in frozen pizza * Meat used in kid's lunch products * Meat used in ravioli, spaghetti or Italian pasta products, etc.

Unless it says "NITRITE FREE" on the front label, you can bet it's made with cancer-causing sodium nitrite!,

(Hint: You will only find nitrite-free meat products in two places in the grocery store: 1) In the fresh meat section where you can buy freshly-ground hamburger, for example, and 2) In the freezer, where you can find "natural" meat products that are nitrite-free.

What are the dangerous chemicals in processed meats? Sodium nitrite is one of the most dangerous chemicals added to processed meats. Please be aware:

* You MUST read the ingredients list to find the sodium nitrite! Meat product companies do not list this ingredient on the front of the package.

* Even ORGANIC meat products and NATURAL meat products can still contain sodium nitrite. So read the labels to be sure, and avoid buying any meat product made with sodium nitrite.

* Be especially careful of food for kids! Virtually all packaged food products containing meat and marketed to children contain sodium nitrite! (Read the ingredients to protect your children.)

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a second dangerous chemical found in virtually all processed meat products. MSG is a dangerous excitotoxin linked to neurological disorders such as migraine headaches, Alzheimer's disease, loss of appetite control, obesity and many other serious health conditions. Manufacturers use MSG to add flavor to dead-tasting processed meat products.

Essentially, dead meat products look and taste dead (because they are), so meat companies use the following three ingredients to make them look fresh and taste interesting:

Sodium nitrite makes the meat look red and fresh. (But it promotes cancer.)

MSG makes the meat taste savory. (But it causes neurological disorders.)

Processed salt makes the meat taste more interesting. (But it causes nutritional problems and high blood pressure.)

On top of these three chemical additives, processed meats also contain saturated animal fat that is often contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals, pesticide residues and other dangerous substances.

Protect yourself and your family. Processed meats promote cancer. There is simply no question about the scientific validity of that statement, and anyone who disagrees with it is either working for the meat industry or hopelessly behind the times on their nutritional research.

The processed meat industry, of course, insists that processed meat is perfectly healthy and that you can eat all you want. It's no surprise, of course: Big Tobacco insisted that cigarettes aren't really bad for your health and that nicotine isn't addictive, either. No industry is really willing to admit that its products are hazardous .



I make it real simple- I don't eat meat, mammals, that is. Occasional organic chicken if I have to and I do give in for some turkey at Thanksgiving. I would prefer to give it all up and be a true pescatarian. That takes the worry out of wondering if my meat is safe.

[FloridaShrimp]

Food for thought re nitrites and msg in processed meats.....

What is "processed meat" exactly?
Here's the difference:

Fresh meat usually has only one ingredient: The meat! Fresh meat is refrigerated and has a very short shelf life (just a few days, usually). It's usually packaged in simple wrappers, with no fancy logos or color printing.

Processed meat has many ingredients and is usually packaged for long-term shelf life. These products almost always contain sodium nitrite, the cancer-causing chemical additive that meat companies use as a color fixer to turn their meat products a bright red "fresh-looking" color. Processed meat products include:

* Bacon * Sausage * Pepperoni * Beef jerky * Deli slices * Hot dogs * Sandwich meat (including those served at restaurants) * Ham * Meat "gift" products like Christmas sausages * Meat used in canned soups * Meat used in frozen pizza * Meat used in kid's lunch products * Meat used in ravioli, spaghetti or Italian pasta products, etc.

Unless it says "NITRITE FREE" on the front label, you can bet it's made with cancer-causing sodium nitrite!,

(Hint: You will only find nitrite-free meat products in two places in the grocery store: 1) In the fresh meat section where you can buy freshly-ground hamburger, for example, and 2) In the freezer, where you can find "natural" meat products that are nitrite-free.

What are the dangerous chemicals in processed meats? Sodium nitrite is one of the most dangerous chemicals added to processed meats. Please be aware:

* You MUST read the ingredients list to find the sodium nitrite! Meat product companies do not list this ingredient on the front of the package.

* Even ORGANIC meat products and NATURAL meat products can still contain sodium nitrite. So read the labels to be sure, and avoid buying any meat product made with sodium nitrite.

* Be especially careful of food for kids! Virtually all packaged food products containing meat and marketed to children contain sodium nitrite! (Read the ingredients to protect your children.)

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a second dangerous chemical found in virtually all processed meat products. MSG is a dangerous excitotoxin linked to neurological disorders such as migraine headaches, Alzheimer's disease, loss of appetite control, obesity and many other serious health conditions. Manufacturers use MSG to add flavor to dead-tasting processed meat products.

Essentially, dead meat products look and taste dead (because they are), so meat companies use the following three ingredients to make them look fresh and taste interesting:

Sodium nitrite makes the meat look red and fresh. (But it promotes cancer.)

MSG makes the meat taste savory. (But it causes neurological disorders.)

Processed salt makes the meat taste more interesting. (But it causes nutritional problems and high blood pressure.)

On top of these three chemical additives, processed meats also contain saturated animal fat that is often contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals, pesticide residues and other dangerous substances.

Protect yourself and your family. Processed meats promote cancer. There is simply no question about the scientific validity of that statement, and anyone who disagrees with it is either working for the meat industry or hopelessly behind the times on their nutritional research.

The processed meat industry, of course, insists that processed meat is perfectly healthy and that you can eat all you want. It's no surprise, of course: Big Tobacco insisted that cigarettes aren't really bad for your health and that nicotine isn't addictive, either. No industry is really willing to admit that its products are hazardous .



I make it real simple- I don't eat meat, mammals, that is. Occasional organic chicken if I have to and I do give in for some turkey at Thanksgiving. I would prefer to give it all up and be a true pescatarian. That takes the worry out of wondering if my meat is safe.