Slipping Through the Cracks: GRAS 201

GRAS substances range from something as widely used as sodium and caffeine to more obscure chemicals such as theobromine and polyglutamic acid.  GRAS designations have been made since the 1950‘s and those reports from the late 50’s through the 80’s are based on data and research from these periods.  As you can imagine, research technology has advanced leaps and bounds since then.  What the research said back then and what it might say today is an interesting (and alarming) notion.  For example, the GRAS report for phosphate-containing compounds (see here) dates back to 1975.

Slipping Through the Cracks: GRAS 101

Up to this point, I‘ve made a few references to the Food and Drug Administration’s designation of some chemicals in our foods as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS).  Since 1998, the FDA reports that 410 substances have been determined to be GRAS, and this doesn’t include those submitted between 1958 and 1998. With this in mind and the host of GRAS substances used in processed foods, most of these food-like substances could easily be thought of “as generally safe to eat!”

What's Lurking in Our Food? BPA 101

BPA aka Bisphenol A has re-appeared in the media due to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Harvard researchers found significant levels of BPA in participants who consumed canned soups over freshly prepared soups.  Some of you may recall the previous uproar about BPA and its use in the production of plastic baby bottles and other infant products.  Unfortunately, this chemical is still used throughout a majority of the U.S. despite pressure from the American Medical Association. Eleven U.S. states have taken heed to these warnings by banning (or are in the process of banning) the use of BPA in infant feeding containers.  Earlier this summer China banned the chemical from baby bottles, joining Canada, the European Union, and the United Arab Emirates.

But why should we be concerned?

Keep Things Moving: Part 2

So we’ve talked about keeping things moving through our digestive tracts by adding more real, fiber-rich foods into our diets.  Now to keeping our bodies moving!

Although some may ask why we need to walk or ride bikes if we have more advanced modes of transportation, evolutionarily speaking we are built to move.   The bipedal motion of the Homo sapien species and the improved capacity to walk compared to our primate ancestors confirm our natural need for movement.  In fact, walking is the ideal form of exercise, that is, if we actually had the time to do enough of it! As hunter gatherers, our survival and livelihood actually depended on our abilities to walk and run.  If we didn’t sprint to kill prey or walk miles to locate edible foods, we, along with our tight-knit communities, would perish.    

Taking Back Control...from What?

So it’s time to take back control of our lives, but from what exactly?  From a system that talks dollars and cents over the health and well-being of the people.  And sadly, a system in which most people place too much faith. And by the people, I mean you and me!