Eating For Health

Who doesn’t like some fast food?   It is so easy to drop in any fast-food establishment and grab a bite to eat, either for a meal or for a quick snack.   But are you getting more than food at a fast-food restaurant?   Consumer Reports and others are reporting along with your food, you could be getting some dangerous chemicals found in the containers and wrappers.   What are these dangerous chemicals? Consumer Report testers found PFAS chemicals in many different types of fast-food packaging.   PFAS stands for “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances “or PFAS.    These chemicals were actually invented in 1938 when Roy Plunkett found a chemical that lasts a very long time and a chemical “resistant to heat, water, oil, and corrosion”.   That is why PFAS chemicals are called “forever chemicals”, they last a long time and don’t break down.   There isn’t just one PFAS chemical, but over 9,000 different ones. Why do Fast Food places use these ch...

So many things are added to the foods we eat.   An interesting article appeared in the paper about food additives and our health, especially children’s health.   It is actually hard to find and eat foods that are additive free.   Especially if you buy a lot of ready made food or eat at Fast Food restaurants.   This article is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)new policy statement which encourages families to try to reduce exposure to the synthetic chemicals in our foods.   Three types of synthetic chemicals are focused on, the chemicals in: food colorings, preservatives and the chemicals found in food packaging. What harm are these food additives causing? According to the AAP, some food additives can interfere with children’s hormones, their growth and development.   Some additives are linked to an increased risk of childhood obesity.    How many food additives are there? You may be surprised to learn that over 10,...