Natural Flavors or Chemical Warfare?

I pulled this info from "Food Babe"'s blog!  She does some awesome research on "food" and our food industry.  

About a year ago, 60 minutes did a show on the company Givaudan.  They are the world leaders in flavoring our food.  If you've ever seen the words "Artificially Flavored" or "Natural Flavors" in a list of ingredients, chances are they are the ones who supplied it.  And if you HAVEN'T seen those words in an ingredients list then thats crazy... because it is virtually in EVERYTHING on your grocery store shelves.  

But what is in "Natural Flavors?"  

This video is 14 minutes long but it is a rare look inside of the company.  It is very eye opening!

"The natural and artificial chemicals that flavor manufactures engineer are contributing to what David Kessler (former head of the FDA) calls a “food carnival” in your mouth. The inability to stop eating because the flavors they have synthesized trick your mind into wanting more and more. They don’t want you to have the full essence of the strawberry – they want you to only experience the best 1 millionth part of the taste – so you get “addicted” and keep having to go back for more and more, searching continuously for gratification – eating more of that product which in turns fills Big Food Companies pockets. The Big Food Companies are “hijacking” your taste buds one by one."

Most of us know artificial flavors derived from petroleum aren’t good for us, but the with the words “natural flavor” food chemists and companies can put whatever they want in your food that is “generally regarded as safe” including excitotoxins. Natural flavor can legally contain natural occurring “glutamate” bi-products like MSG (remember this post?) – which are known excitotoxins. These excitotoxins are some of the chemicals that cause your taste buds to experience irresistibility when it comes to food. Ever wonder why you can’t just eat one chip? Or one cookie? Or why you remember a taste of a product so distinctly and crave uncontrollably? Excitotoxins can be to blame. Excitotoxins overexcite your cells literally until they die or are damaged causing “injury” and “incapacitating” you with disease. When consumed over time, excitotoxins can cause nerve disorders resulting a myriad of diseases from stroke to Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s. And lots of other side effects too – like obesity, migraines, fatigue and depression."

So what should you do?  

Try to stay clear of anything with artificial or "natural" flavoring!  It won't be a big deal if you are staying away from processed foods.  If those "Strawberry" pop tarts are looking tasty... try a real live strawberry instead!  I know, it sounds crazy!  The more you eat real, whole foods, the more your taste buds will grow accustomed to them.  They will become very satisfying and delicious!  After a while, an apple will start to be just as satisfying as chocolate ice cream!  Ok, that last part was a lie.  I don't think anything will ever be as satisfying as Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream with cold milk poured over it so it crystalizes and sprinkles all over the top to give it a nice crunch........ Oh sorry.... What were we talking about?  Oh yea, healthy stuff :-)  Seriously, stay away from flavoring!  Mother Nature produces the best flavors out there anyway!  Stick with those.