Happy Friday! 😀 Bring on the weekend, right?!
I left for work at 6:30am yesterday and didn’t walk in the door til 8pm! Loong day! Last evening was the Bariatric Surgery Support Group I lead and the turn out was excellent! My group continues to grow and I have learned SO much! While I think there’s a “right” and a “wrong” candidate for bariatric surgery, the bottom line is that people are going to get weight loss surgery somehow…some way. As a dietitian, it is my duty and my job to help these individuals make the right surgical or non-surgical decision for THEM and to help them adopt lasting lifestyle changes in their eating and exercise habits. It has been very rewarding once I was able to put personal biases aside.
Today I wanted to discuss an article called “The 7 Foods Experts Won’t Eat” [1]. Seven different medical and nutrition experts each listed a different food they strictly forbid in their diet. I thought the list was not only interesting, but controversial and I was curious to hear some feedback from you all! So here it goes…
1. Canned tomatoes shunned by Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.
The issue: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals [1].
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles.
2. Corn-fed beef shunned by Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.
The issue: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains [1]. Grain-fed beef have less nutritional value and are higher in saturated fat than grass-fed beef.
The solution: Purchase and consume grass-fed beef.
3. Microwave popcorn shunned by Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.
The issue: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer [1].
The solution: Pop popcorn in a skillet.
4. Nonorganic potatoes shunned by Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board.
The issue: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil [1].
The solution: Buy organic.
5. Farmed salmon shunned by David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The issue: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT [1].
The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed [1].
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones shunned by Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society [1].
The issue: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production [1].
The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products [1].
7. Conventional apples shunned by Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods [1].
The issue: Apples are heavily sprayed with pesticides.
The solution: Buy organic. Otherwise, wash and peel apples before eating.
Question: Do you avoid any of these 7 foods, too? Are there any you disagree with? Any changes you may make in your grocery purchases?
I think I will make apples and potatoes 2 produce items I purchase organic. I buy wild-caught fish and grass-fed beef, and I never eat popcorn. Canned tomatoes are a tough one, but if jarred tomatoes are safe…I can do that! And I always buy milk that does not contain rBGH-free.
Any fun weekend plans?
I can’t wait to relax!
Happy weekend!
I don’t have many of the ones you listed so I don’t bother watching where they come from. Golf like usual for me 🙂 Have a good weekend!
Interesting!! I’ll look for organic potatoes, I already purchase organic apples. Never knew that about the canned tomatoes, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in a glass jar though!!! I’ll have to look 🙂
Jen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
I agree with all them. Many of the food problems stem from introducing new ways of producing food that are not natural or use too many chemicals. I have to admit that while I agree with them, I do eat some of these foods 🙁 I need to make some changes…
Hmm… I have heard of and follow most of the above, but canned tomatoes? I know Eden Organic is the only can free of all the “bad stuff”, but I use organic canned tomatoes all the time for recipes… can you recommend a brand of tomatoes that come in glass jars?? I’ve never seen them.
Aaaah I eat a lot of microwaved popcorn! I’ve never heard about the chemicals.. makes me a little nervous :-/
I have seen this before and honestly after reading that article a while back I completely gave up microwaved popcorn!
I use canned tomatoes to cook all the time. That would be hard for me to eliminate
The fact that the milk produced with artificial hormones is even LEGAL in the US is shameful. It was banned in Canada and Europe and many other countries over a decade ago!
Totally agree with the popcorn and salmon! Canned tomatoes…for the rare times I cook with them, I’m not worried. Apples…if organic is on sale I’ll buy them. I do wash them real well 🙂
Interesting article.
I’m running a 10K on Sunday for Father’s Day (but my dad has decided to golf instead!) – I hope it goes well!
I knew about numbers 6 and 7, but not the rest. Thanks so much for passing along this info.
Thanks for the info! I have never seen this list and it’s really interesting. I am going to make my parents switched from canned tomatoes to glass jars and the popcorn chemicals are scary!
I buy canned tomatoes (diced, etc.) all the time! I’ll have to rethink this one!
Great info! I’m already pretty strict about some of these (particularly the salmon, apples, beef, and milk), but I do use canned tomatoes more often than I should.
Happy to say the only food on that bad list I’ve had in a while is canned tomatoes
I can do all of those, but the microwave popcorn one makes me so sad. I really love popcorn, and microwaving it is so easy. (*deep, long sigh.*) The list of edible foods is getting shorter and shorter.
I generally pick food on price, brand and taste (historical taste – I don’t eat at the grocery store 🙂 ). Sometimes the less you know, the better. I concede that I basically rely on the FDA to make sure something is okay for my consumption. Hope they’re all doing a great job!! 😉
I found this article really amusing when it came out!
And once you think about it, microwave popcorn is kinda gross. I mean… the “butter” is a neon color before you microwave it. I had never thought about it until then… then again I don’t eat much popcorn except for maybe the good fresh kettlecorn at fairs and such… mmm
I’ve seen that list before, and I’d like to follow it, but sometimes it’s not so easy, especially since the small town I’m currently living in essentially doesn’t have organic produce in the stores :-(.
I’ve seen that list before. I totally believe them but I still eat canned tomatoes and microwave popcorn. I have made a lot of changed toward healthier living so I am confident that there are MANY healthier things going in my body. Someday hopefully I’ll make more changes, thanks!
I’ve heard about most of these, and I’ve made changes accordingly. I do not buy organic potatoes though, but yesterday I sprayed mine with the spray I made form your recipe! 🙂 I hope it works! I also eat a lot LESS popcorn from the micro, and pop my own. It saves money too.
Canned tomatoes are something we use. I’ll look for ones in glass but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them. I may be wrong, but I thought that ALL canned foods used that chemical on the lining of the can so we should avoid most canned foods. Is that true?
The other things I knew about and try to do. I don’t think I’ve seen organic potatoes either, but we don’t eat them often.
I hadn’t even heard or thought about some of the issues above, thank you for sharing!
My boyfriends band has a gig tomorrow night, so that should be fun!
My friend posted about this article on Facebook….thanks for posting it!
The one thing I do often is buy canned tomatoes. I will definitely look for glass jars, but I’m sure they’ll be $$. 🙁 I do buy organic apples, but I’m still hoping my grocery store will start to sell grass-fed beef! I need to look for organic potatoes, too. Good thing is, I don’t like popcorn….so at least I’m safe there! 😉
P.S. Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog, too! Have a wonderful weekend, Nicole!
Ive never been a fan of canned tomatoes – and now Im really glad!
The potato and apple thing doesnt surprise me. Those are two things I buy organic anyway, and I dont settle. My dad has always told me that if its something I plan to eat the skin of, buy it organic. It made sense to me, so thats what I do.
I avoid all of those except for canned tomatoes.
Thankfully I practice these bits of info most of the time. I was not familiar with the tomato one though. I will be mindful to buy them in glass jars. xo
I’m mostly good, tomatoes are the only problem for me, it’s hard to find them in glass bottles an significantly more expensive, but I will definitely be on the look out for them and stock up when they are on sale. Being in Washington organic potatoes are easy (so is the salmon if I ate it :P) I’m even growing my own potatoes this year. Even the organic apples are pretty easy up here. I haven’t had milk with hormones in years (organic all the way, organic skim milk tastes much richer than conventional). Grass fed beef has been a staple for us for years, tastes better and I did an experiment once with corn vs grass fed ground beef that means I’ll never go back… I do air popped popcorn so woot I feel pretty safe, just need to find glass tomatoes.
Boring weekend planned and I can’t wait! hopefully the sun will put in an appearance.
uh oh…I eat non organic apples 🙁 I think I should try to only buy organic! the rest I am pretty good with…occasionaly the canned tomatoes make its way into my chilis or soups just occasionally though!
I don’t really any of the things listed, although I do admit to not researching my beef before I buy it. Honestly, I only eat beef about once every two months though, and I am still kickin’!
If I DID eat a lot of the mentioned things, I think I would change my habits, though!
Yes, I avoid them, too!
Happy Weekend!
I try my best to buy only organic and fresh product so yes, I avoid them. I don’t even use a can tomato. I always use a juicy fresh one! But organic fresh beef is difficult to find here. So I have to choose between imported organic grass fed frozen beef and a fresh commercial farm beef…..tough!…. Have a nice weekend.
i think i may avoid the apples from now on……scary! happy friday nicole!
Great post! I didn’t know that about the salmon. I don’t know if I’ve bought anything that has said “fresh Atlantic” but I’ll know not to from now on 🙂
Oh no! I use all of the above! Seriously, no joke! Guess I get an “F”! 🙁
Thanks for the info, never knew anything abt these products…and have a lovely weekend nicole, take care
I’ve been meaning to start buying organic potatoes, and I should probably splurge a bit for organic apples as well, just because I eat quite a bit.