Hidden additives in the foods we eat

[NinjaPuppy]

While doing some research on another topic here about soy, I decided to see if I could find the ingredients of assorted everyday foods. Now I do hope we all know that a fast food diet is not considered healthy for the average human being as there are much better alternatives but this twigged me out:

McDonald's Regular Bun:
Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, enzymes), water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, yeast, soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, wheat gluten, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated monoglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide, soy flour), calcium propionate and sodium propionate (preservatives), soy lecithin.

Guar Gum: Guar gum is a fiber from the seed of the guar plant.
Guar gum is used as a laxative. It is also used for treating diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, and diabetes; for reducing cholesterol; and for preventing “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis).
In foods and beverages, guar gum is used as a thickening, stabilizing, suspending, and binding agent.
In manufacturing, guar gum is used as a binding agent in tablets, and as a thickening agent in lotions and creams.

How does it work?
Guar gum is a fiber that normalizes the moisture content of the stool, absorbing excess liquid in diarrhea, and softening the stool in constipation. It also might help decrease the amount of cholesterol and glucose that is absorbed in the stomach and intestines.
There is some interest in using guar gum for weight loss because it expands in the intestine, causing a sense of fullness. This may decrease appetite.

Oh YUM! If that doesn't make you want to reconsider your dinner options, perhaps this ingredient might seal the deal:

Ammonium Chloride
Indications and Usage for Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium Chloride Injection, USP, after dilution in isotonic sodium chloride injection, may be indicated in the treatment of patients with (1) hypochloremic states and (2) metabolic alkalosis.

I'm not complaining mind you, there was a time when any free prescription drugs would have been gladly accepted but putting it in a hamburger bun makes me wondery WHY???????????? Here's the basic ingredients for a good bread. Does anyone know why all those excess ingredients would be in a hamburger bun? It's got to cost oodles more $$$.

Bread Ingredients
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

[Craig Browning]

I just mixed that very recipe for my bread machine. . .

The corporate argument on this stems from the whole preservative of product POV and possibly "Government Requisites". . . as we all know, the U.S. Government actually cares about its citizens, our health & well-being, etc. For this reason I'd suggest you look at all those wonderful ingredients out there and what they impact when it comes to social & emotional behavior. For an example, Chlorinated Water. . .

lightparty.com/Health/DangersOfChlorine
sonakishowerheads.com/chlorine-and-your-heart
silkywater.com/chlorine

How About Malathion & Govt. Insect Spray Campaigns?

health.state.ny.us/publications/2740/
cher.ubc.ca/westnile/PDFs/Elmieh_Aug04.pdf
citizenscampaign.org/.../...



There's a HUGE list of food-stuff as well as environmental (air, water, flora) tampering sustained by our government via the Department of Agriculture, the FDA and other such groups. While there is a Conspiracy Theory taint to some such data, most of it tends to be on the up and up, just never challenged by a consumer base that's overly trusting, self-obsessed and lackadaisical.

[ninapl]

It's hard to tell, unless you have your own chemical laboratory to test things yourself. I barely trust the so called "organic" overpriced products as well, but seriously, how much choice do we really have? If you are in a big city, you are in big trouble in this department. If you have a local farmer's market near you, that's probably your best bet. With that said, looking at hard facts, average life expectation has increased dramatically during the past 50 years, so there is a lot of paranoia in all this as well.

[Craig Browning]