What’s in your Food?

By Stephanie Anne Lloyd

Actually horsemeat should be the least of your worries, as it is nutritional and won’t damage your health. Unfortunately that is just the tip of the iceberg and the deeper you dig the murkier it gets. Americans, despite spending twice what we spend on healthcare, are overweight and die earlier and their diet is now our diet, so expect this generation to be the first that does not live longer than their parents. Food should not be manufactured in factories. Good ingredients grow and are recognisable, so ditch ready meals and cook! It is easy, cheap and doesn’t take that long to prepare meals at home.

Meat is good for us as we are omnivores, but buy it from your local butcher in a recognisable form.

Only use reputable takeaways, many pass off other fish as cod. I love Chinese and Indian but ensure they use herbs and spices such as turmeric rather than artificial colorants. KFC have been prosecuted in China for selling chicken with 12,800 times the level of permitted additives and antibiotics, their sales have subsequently fallen 41% When China, not renown for food standards, clamps down it is time to say ‘Houston we have a problem’!

Cheap chickens are the most abused creature in the UK. Most never see the sun in their short few weeks of life but live briefly in overcrowded concentration barns with antibiotics added to their food. Why do you take more care of what you put in your car’s fuel tank than you do of what you put in your mouth?

Do you know that nearly 3,000 food additives such as preservatives, colouring, and flavourings are approved? Do you know that some colours are made from coal tar?

The best meat is organic as it certifies its provenance and what it was fed, and while dearer, it is much healthier for you. There are several good online suppliers like Rhug Estate and Donald Russell. Get out in the fresh air and grow some fruit and veg, everyone has room for a container or window box. My favourites are spinach, onions and garlic. Choose ones that are easy to grow in your garden and involve your kids. There is a wealth of free information on-line.

Golden rules
 Never eat anything that is not immediately recognisable (pies, sausages, burgers, reformed seafood, crab sticks, cheap fried chicken, frozen fish in batter etc.)
 Avoid all processed food (eg. ready meals) and all crisps that contain olean.
 Avoid foods that state they have artificial flavours added.
 Avoid sweeteners such as fructose, corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Your body cannot easily metabolise them and because they fool your body’s insulin mechanism the calories will be stored as fat.
 Avoid artificial colorants.

What you eat defines your immune system
 Avoid flavour enhancers. When food is processed it is unappetising so they add monosodium glutamate often shown as MSG, hydrolyzed soy protein, autolysed yeast extract
 Avoid manufactured cakes, sweets, sport drinks and fizzy drinks as the bromine they contain interferes with your body’s iodine receptors
 Grass fed animals are naturally more healthy and have a better quality of life.
 Do not buy cheap chicken or cheap eggs (it is a great idea to keep a few chickens to provide you with eggs)