Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Top 10 most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods - never eat these again!


Top 10 most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods - never eat these again!

Thursday, April 18, 2013 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: CancerFoodFoods


(NaturalNews) The statement "everything causes cancer" has become a popular hyperbole, and one that some people use as rhetorical fodder to excuse their own dietary and lifestyle failures, particularly as they pertain to cancer risk. But the truth of the matter is that many common food items have, indeed, been scientifically shown to increase cancer risk, and some of them substantially. Here are 10 of the most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods that you should never eat again:

1) Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). It goes without saying that GMOs have no legitimate place in any cancer-free diet, especially now that both GMOs and the chemicals used to grow them have been shown to cause rapid tumor growth. But GMOs are everywhere, including in most food derivatives made from conventional corn, soybeans, and canola. However, you can avoid them by sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified, and locally-grown foods that are produced naturally without biotechnology (http://www.naturalnews.com).

2) Processed meats. Most processed meat products, including lunch meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, contain chemical preservatives that make them appear fresh and appealing, but that can also cause cancer. Both sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate have been linked to significantly increasing the risk of colon and other forms of cancer, so be sure to choose only uncured meat products made without nitrates, and preferably from grass-fed sources (http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/processedmeat050305.cfm).

3) Microwave popcorn. They might be convenient, but those bags of microwave popcorn are lined with chemicals that are linked to causing not only infertility but also liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in microwave popcorn bag linings as "likely" carcinogenic, and several independent studies have linked the chemical to causing tumors. Similarly, the diacetyl chemical used in the popcorn itself is linked to causing both lung damage and cancer (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400701/Microwave-Popcorn-Threat.html).

4) Soda pop. Like processed meats, soda pop has been shown to cause cancer as well. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals, and colorings, soda pop acidifies the body and literally feeds cancer cells. Common soda pop chemicals like caramel color and its derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to causing cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/031383_caramel_coloring_cola.html).

5) 'Diet' foods, beverages. Even worse than conventional sugar-sweetened soda pop, though, is "diet" soda pop and various other diet beverages and foods. A recent scientific review issued by theEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners, causes a range of illnesses including birth defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and various other artificial sweeteners have also been linked to causing cancer (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).

6) Refined 'white' flours. Refined flour is a common ingredient in processed foods, but its excess carbohydrate content is a serious cause for concern. A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to a 220 percent increase in breast cancer among women. High-glycemic foods in general have also been shown to rapidly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which directly feeds cancer cell growth and spread (http://www.naturalnews.com/001812_cancer_prevention.html).

7) Refined sugars. The same goes for refined sugars, which tend to rapidly spike insulin levels and feed the growth of cancer cells. Fructose-rich sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are particularly offensive, as cancer cells have been shown to quickly and easily metabolize them in order to proliferate. And since cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other popular, mostly processed, food items are loaded with HFCS and other refined sugars, this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days (http://www.naturalnews.com/038071_cancer_sugar_sweets.html).

8) Conventional apples, grapes, and other 'dirty' fruits. Many people think they are eating healthy when they buy apples, grapes, or strawberries from the store. But unless these fruits are organic or verified to be pesticide-free, they could be a major cancer risk. The Environmental Working Group(EWG) found that up to 98 percent of all conventional produce, and particularly the type found on its "dirty" fruits list, is contaminated with cancer-causing pesticides (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/).

9) Farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is another high-risk cancer food, according to Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany. According to his assessment, farmed salmon not only lacks vitamin D, but it is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), flame retardants, pesticides, and antibiotics (http://www.albany.edu/ihe/salmonstudy/pressrelease.html).

10) Hydrogenated oils. They are commonly used to preserve processed foods and keep them shelf-stable. But hydrogenated oils alter the structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating diseases such as cancer. Some manufacturers are phasing out the use of hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other safer alternatives, but trans fats are still widely used in processed foods (http://www.naturalnews.com/010095_hydrogenated_oils_unhealthy.html).

Sources for this article include:

http://www.care2.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/021808_cancer_prevention.html

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Global scientists also back 10 year moratorium on field trials of GM crops!

World over scientists have been the ones questioning this GM technology and strongly advocating no to GMOs in our food/crops..
Wish our Govts listen in..

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/global-scientists-back-10year-moratorium-on-field-trials-of-bt-food-crops/article4658619.ece

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Safe food mela mention in Hindu

after the Dinamalar did it couple of days agao, Hindu gives a good coverage to the safe food mela at Kodambakkam ..
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3788891.ece


News » Cities » Chennai

Chennai, August 18, 2012

Going back to clean, healthy source

K. Sarumathi
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organic stalls: People at the food stalls put up during the mela held at Anna Park, United India Colony, Kodambakkam. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
The Hindu organic stalls: People at the food stalls put up during the mela held at Anna Park, United India Colony, Kodambakkam. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
India for Safe Food and Safe Food Alliance have been setting up organic food melas in various cities.
It is said things come back in full circle and it seems true for agriculture as well. From old methods of natural farming to using chemicals and pesticides for increasing production, many are now turning back to the traditional methods. Health is the all encompassing reason behind it.
With numerous scholarly papers on health hazards of pesticide usage in food and hullabaloo created about genetically modified vegetables, people have been forced to think twice before buying from local department stores.
A luscious apple might have been polished with wax, the beautiful greens (the supreme source of wellness) might have artificial colour in them, and behind the tempting smell of mango the sinister calcium carbide might be at work. If health boosters become health imperilments, where do people turn to? ‘Go organic’ seems to be the call of many.
India for Safe Food, an electronic forum, is a movement being spearheaded by ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture). Working in the area of agriculture, environment, farmer and consumer rights, the forum has been trying to shift attention of consumers on alternative food choices.
With no chemical, no GM as its tagline, it has joined hands with other organisations to bring ‘safe food’ option to people. Along with Safe Food Alliance, the forum, run by group of volunteers, has been setting up organic food melas in various cities.
Stalls put up
After the success of the first mela in the city, the forum decided to reach out to more people and with the help of local groups like Exnora, it organised a safe food mela at Anna Park, United India Colony, Kodambakkam recently.
Stalls were put up by six organic outlets including, Dhanyam (T. Nagar), Vanilla Organic (West Mambalam), Vendure organic, Aditya organic (Vadapalani), Restore organic (Adyar), and Nalla Keerai (Thiruninravur).
To encourage home grown food, special stalls on terrace gardening and composting were also put up. A three-pot composting system was explained to visitors as a means of converting household waste into manure for home gardens. People were also treated to ready-to-eat food made from organic products.
Getting very good response from residents, Ananthoo, member of Safe Food Alliance, said, “More local groups should come forward and help us spread this message. If we don’t reach the grass root levels, the campaign will have no meaning at all. The Government should also encourage opening of organic stores at the taluk level. Safe food option should be accessible and affordable to all.”
While many visitors said that they would make a conscious effort to shift to organically grown food, some like Balasubramanium, a retired engineer, said that the cost of organic food is prohibitive. “With prices of food increasing, not many can afford to go organic. These food items are priced high, and why spend so much on items one can get at a less rate in department stores,” asks Balasubramaniam.
But Ananthoo says that the demand and supply rule will apply to organic food as well.
“With demand increasing, prices will fall automatically. Also there is something known as fair price which determines the cost of products in the market. Moreover, prices of organic food item are marked up only by 10 to 15 per cent.”
There were others who refused to make any changes in their food buying habits. “How can we be sure what organic stores sell indeed are organic,” they asked.
To lend support
While the debate on whether to stick to food sold in super markets or change to organic alternatives goes on, people who want to lend support to India for Safe Food can log on to indiaforsafefood.in and sign the online petition for policy change and access to safe food. People can also give a missed call to 022-3301 0031 in support of the cause.