Top Health Food Shockers
Top Health Food Shockers
By Jonny Bowden
Food Dye
You may want to think twice before eating your favorite strawberry yogurt from now on. According to the FDA, the red food coloring -- called cochineal extract -- found in popsicles, candy, strawberry yogurt, fruit drinks and even artificial crabmeat is made from the dried, ground bodies of an insect called Dactylopius coccus costa. Native to Peru, the beetles feed on red cactus berries. The berries' color accumulates in the female and its un-hatched larvae before the insects are then collected, dried and ground into pigment. It takes approximately 70,000 insects to produce one pound of carmine. Carmine was not required to be specifically listed in a food product's ingredients and usually fell under the category "artifical color." But in response to reports of severe allergic reactions due to carmine, the FDA ruled in January 2009 all foods containing carmine have it listed on the label.
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Granola Bars
Most granola bars are simply candy bars in disguise, with very little fiber, lots of processed carbs, and a ton of sugar. You're better off making your own healthier version from raw oats, chopped almonds, coconut flakes, raisins and a dollop of raw organic honey.
Egg-White Omelettes
No yolks in your omelettes? That's just utterly unnecessary. The yolk contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are crucial for eye health. Egg yolks are also an important source of phosphatidylcholine, a nutrient that boosts brain health. Worried about your cholesterol levels? Consider this: Half the fat in the yolk isn't even saturated.
Richard Jung, Getty Images
Farm-Raised Salmon
You'd think eating penned salmon would be the healthier way to go, but the farm-raised fish are pumped full of antibiotics and are lower in nutritional value than their wild relatives. In addition, wild salmon get their red color from an antioxidant in their natural food source, krill. Farmed salmon get their color from dye.
Anthony Johnson, Getty Images
Supermarket Cereal
Most supermarket cereals are fiber lightweights and are also loaded with sugar. The best cereals are old-fashioned oatmeal, and a few standouts like Fiber One and All-Bran. Check the labels and choose cereals that have fewer than 5 grams of sugar and more than 5 grams of fiber per serving.
jupiterimages
Frozen Yogurt
The only thing fro-yo has in common with real yogurt (the plain, non-frozen kind) is that they're both white. The frozen stuff doesn't have live cultures, which help maintain digestive health and the nonfat varieties are a mix of chemicals and artificial sweeteners. You're better off with a serving of organic ice cream.
Jackson Vereen, jupiterimages
Canola Oil
Along with olive oil, canola oil seems like a healthy standout. But conventional canola oil goes through a caustic refining process that creates some trans fats. Unless it's cold-pressed and organic, stay away.
Getty Images
Apple Juice
It's sweet, refreshing and a favorite among kids. But most apple juice is nothing more than sugar water with apple flavoring. One cup of apple juice has no fiber, 117 calories and 27 grams of sugar. And most people consume way more than a cup at a time. Stick to fiber-rich apples and skip the juice.
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Jonnie1k 12:09:01 PM Jul 15 2009
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Bugmebug2000 07:35:13 PM Mar 02 2009
What I don't like about AOL is always (trying) to make me disablt my pop-up blocker. This I refuse to do.I like Yogurt anyhow.Also, will AOL just try to stick to the facts, quit leading subscribers on to the lead story that isn't there when you follow thru and for gosh sakes...be an instrument of educational fact.
Lunamoonpixie 03:01:32 PM Mar 02 2009
If you eat grain products, you're already eating bugs. Extra protein; so not a big deal.
InARealPickle 06:53:25 AM Mar 02 2009
Bugs BugsThey're good for your heartThey more you eat themThe more you fartThe more you fart the better you feelSo let's eat bugs at every meal!Bugs Bugs They're a magical fruitThe more you eat them The more you tootThe more you toot the better you feelSo let's eat bugs at every meal
PlanXan2 05:41:01 AM Mar 02 2009
NY sun 1 wrote, "To be honest I usually check labels and do not remember ever see Carmine as one of the ingredients..." _________ READ THE ARTICLE. It states that it was listed ONLY as "artificial coloring" up until last month.
TLMillard 02:29:10 AM Mar 02 2009
HA....what you don't know won't hurt you. Some people in other parts of the world LIVE on bugs! People unknowingly eat 'gross' things every day. Some knowingly (?BJ's)...ha ha.
Midori Greene 01:07:09 AM Mar 02 2009
People panic too much. Watch the Food Channel. Wiki it. Look it up. Gosh. It's easier to be ignorant and complain about things than it is to learn to be intelligent and research stuff. It's processed food. This is what's in processed food. To the ignorant buffoons I say, bring on the yogurt!
