Is your dinner plotting to kill you?

This article was originally published in The Scope of New London, Connecticut.

A toxic pantry.

Just about every packaged food you eat is terrible for your health.

In light of the fact that 90% of America’s food budget goes to processed food, I think it’s about time we initiate a conversation on what all this processed food is doing to our health and society. We all know that food is medicine, yet the overwhelming majority of our diet comes from nutrient-depleted garbage foods. We eat a diet that leads to cancer, type 2 diabetes, weight disorders, fatigue, and heart problems, all the while funding a system of food that does not work for the people.

Let’s kick the facts for a minute.

Organic means healthy

You're eating what he's pouring.

Organic produce really does aid long term well being.

There’s a lot of skepticism about organic foods, and for good reason.  Why should you shell out extra cash for foods that are supposed to be healthy in the first place, especially when you’re not sure what organic means?  Let’s clear that up today.

Aren’t I artificially sweet?

The tastiest source for brain leisions.

Artificial sweeteners lead to real death.

You might have gathered by now that I’m not a fan of the added sugar in our processed foods, whether in fruit juice or whole wheat bread or sphaghetti sauce or whatever else.

Does that mean you should grab a bowl of splenda and a spoon?

Sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin are all cancer causing chemicals that should be avoided. The situation is like this: the corporate funded studies generally find no problems, while the privately funded studies generally find significant problems.  Who should you trust?  And who do you think the FDA sides with?

Where’s your money going?

This does NOT benefit consumers.

I’d like to point out some scary trends in how our food budgets are being spent.  I encourage you to think about the question, “Who is profiting off me?”  There is no more direct measure of support than payment, and you might just be paying the people that are killing you.

What’s the deal with peanut butter?

Do you have your affairs in order?

Let’s check out peanut butter as a case study.  This discussion will talk about toxins found in peanuts, hidden trans fat in 0% trans fat foods, and healthy and unhealthy oils.

Peanut butter is great.  It’s one of my favorite foods, but it’s a food I will only eat healthy versions of.

This first issue is toxins.  Peanuts are known to be susceptible to aflatoxins, which are produced by various types of fungus in food and are linked to