Feeding You Lies

I’m a huge fan of FoodBabe.com‘s, Vani Hari. I believe in what she’s doing and what she represents. In general, the food industry in America isn’t transparent enough, and often money corrupts ethical practices and guidelines. There is simply not enough data to support the chemical experimentation they put into food (and skeptically: if that data exists, they are not showing it to us for a reason). I think the ramifications of such food experimentation on our environment and our bodies are serious. Furthermore, I think it’s scary when large manufacturers of foods and “food” products (a.k.a. Big Food) have such strong ties to places in government, (the FDA and EPA for examples), creating a conflict of interest to say the least. Certainly, as a consumer, I appreciate the whistleblowers, especially when life-threatening information has been found, who are trying to protect us (along with themselves) from the big companies with very deep pockets. Such activists are making strides, albeit sometimes little ones, to change the course of the food industry. Reducing known harmful chemicals, artificial flavors, artificial colors, artificial sugars and other genetically modified additives linked to a range of diseases from Alzheimer’s to heart disease, cancer and more… is a good thing. And no matter how many studies are put out to the contrary, common sense tell us that chemicals, such as pesticides that are used to kill living things, have to be harmful when ingested.

If you’ve followed Sadie’s Nest for any length of time, you know I (Sadie) am on board with Food Babe’s mission. Progresses like getting the “yoga mat“ chemical taken out of the popular Subway bread, or getting artificial dyes linked to cancer from Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte… are huge victories that benefit us all. As a mother it’s my responsibility to pay attention, and try to do the best I can for my children. As a human being, I want to try and make the best educated decisions offered to me and fight for better ones. I will be the first to admit I’m not perfect. I still eat fast food at times for convenience, I can’t stop my husband, all of the time, from buying processed foods at the grocery store. I recently posted about brand-named cereals! But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the organic food processes and what they mean for our bodies and our earth.

So naturally, when I saw Vani Hari had a new book published, Feeding You Lies, I wanted to read it! The text was full eye-opening examples of how far food corporations, along with those benefitting from them (including scientists and the media), are willing to go to push their money-making even if sickening agenda. The first couple chapters, containing information linking those trying to discredit Hari’s scientific evidence to the exact power houses she speaks out against, was alarming. I can’t imagine the tremendous amount of pressure (and scare-tactics) that must be put on anyone (food bloggers, scientists, nutritionists, etc.) targeting the wrongful practices of Big Food. No thank you.

Next, Hari presents a strong case for buying organic. Speak with your dollars! I don’t need to be convinced to buy organic. I’ve been supporting those practices for years. In our home, I would say we are somewhere between 90-95% organic in our practices. (Maybe enough to get a USDA organic seal of approval?). In fact, I used to write at the head of all Sadie’s Nest’s recipes “as organic as possible” to encourage such ingredients while realizing it’s not possible for everybody. I believe strongly it’s an importance as often as you are able. It’s vital for our own health and well-being, as well as, the health and well-being of our future. I love my kids and want to leave them with an environment better than this!

In concordance with my beliefs, I found Hari’s uncomplicated explanations and simple wisdom encouraging to keep up these meaningful practices. “Food is medicine, plain and simple. If our food is sick (filled with chemicals, additives, artificial ingredients, and/or carcinogens) then collectively we as a country are going to be sick, as well.” (57) She goes on to explain about the dire situation of American health. How the same products (such as, ketchup and coke) in other countries with higher standards (such as the U.K. and Europe) are made with natural food colorings, such as paprika, but are still made with artificial (and health-risky) colorings here in the USA. And how our nation’s health crisis out ranks the countries around the world even though we spend the most on healthcare. Next she provides facts describing how the FDA is failing the American people. How that many Big Food companies, under our laws no less, are able to hire their own experts to determine if a food or additive is “safe” to eat; and that there are no regulations in place to confirm that information to be true. Unfortunately, it’s only after something is known and proven to be harmful (when it is too late- diseases have been diagnosed or deaths have occurred) does the government insist that a certain ingredient be removed.

Feeding You Lies also addresses the rampant sugar crisis as it relates to obesity in our American culture, “It scrambles all your normal appetite controls, driving your metabolism to convert it into lethal belly fat” (85). Hari’s book further examines the health risks and side effects of sugar, clarifying its’ contribution to aging and damaging skin; inflammation which could lead to a greater risk of developing various diseases from digestive disorders to heart disease; liver problems; tooth decay; fatigue and irritability; brain functionality and possible cognitive decline; poor immune systems and heart troubles. “It’s been shown that those who eat high sugar diet’s are up to 400% more likely to have a heart attack” (87). Hari goes on to explain that soda is one, if not the worst, offender and that soda companies are basically evil; spending millions every year covering up their tracks directly associated with such health issues (much like Phillip Morris did with their tobacco companies in their long-time effort denying the link between cigarettes and lung cancer).

Next she expounds upon why things like product labeling is often misleading. “Sugar-free” products aren’t really “free.” As it pertained to her father, who has type II diabetes, his deceptive “diabetic food“ was a nothing more than simple carbohydrates and sugar alcohols. Ultimately these false pretenses were making him more sick, landing him in the hospital with worsening conditions, even though he wasn’t “cheating” on his strict “sugar-free” diet. Fortunately, however, his health decline was reversible by eliminating those chemical ridden products from his daily intake. His side effects, even as severe as dementia, were transformable; too many others didn’t get that chance.

Similarly, “low-fat” diet foods full of “fat free” products aren’t more effective on weight loss, and are not necessarily even good for the heart (as many are purchased with such intentions). These marketing schemes are Big Food selling us cheap products under the guise of false health benefits. For example, the “reduced fat” peanut butter made by Jif: “peanut butter should really be just 100% ground peanuts, but Jif claims their reduced–fat version is just 60% peanuts. What makes up the remaining 40% of the jar? Ingredients like corn syrup solids, sugar, pea protein, and fully hydrogenated oils. Yikes.” (127)

Hari reiterates the fact that we (the American people) have been elaborate and cheap food experiments for a long time. In proof, it was only recently the FDA banded “partially hydrogenated oils” from our food. Eating artificial trans fats is strongly correlated with an increased risk of type II diabetes and heart disease. In fact, the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine emphasizes that there are no health benefits, and there is no safe level to eat. Although much of the information was probably around for a long time before anyone forced big companies to do anything about it; and we (the American people) reap the harmful effects. I think it’s important to say American people, because standards in many other countries are sadly (for us) superior to ours! Many countries don’t let their people eat artificial fat additives, food colorings and flavorings. Hmmm, think about that. And although many foods are labeled “0 trans fat” or “no trans fat,” the same harmful ingredients are still in other (unregulated) additives in the same products! These known harmful additives are especially found in fast foods, because they are cheap to make and make the food last longer on the shelves.… And because we are foolishly willing to buy and eat it!

Hari continues her crusade by shining light on the flavor industry (a monster of all its own). She makes reference to the “Dorito Model of modern food,” where they add fake (man-made in a science lab) flavorings to make food experiments flavorful and even addictive. “By making junk food palatable, the flavor industry has helped drive the obesity epidemic, not to mention higher rates of heart disease and type II diabetes.” (146) Even “natural” flavors that are supposedly derived from substances found in nature can be made up of 80% or more of “incidental additives” in their formulation. Additives, that include such things as chemicals for extraction, etc., which could be made even from genetically modified ingredients.

Also interestingly, something I didn’t know, about the “nutrition facts” on the back of any given food product… The government regulations allow a margin of error of 20%! Which means when they list their daily recommendation of Vitamin A or calories you may or may not be getting what you think you are (or what the package actually says). Maybe for one packaged item it doesn’t seem like much of a difference, but over all- day in and day out, having meals and products loaded with processed foods, it may be almost impossible to track what you’re actually ingesting. In an independent study by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit health research and advocacy group, they analyzed that many fortified items including common brands of cereal and nutrition bars were over fortified. They concluded that “up to a half of young children get too much Vitamin A, zinc, and niacin.” (159) Overdosing on these nutrients could also lead to health issues such as liver damage, skeletal abnormalities, and osteoporosis to name a few. Furthermore, over indulging in typical junk foods may lead to leaky gut syndrome, letting out the good bacteria needed to stay healthy with a strong immune system. “A leaky gut puts you at risk for inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, food allergies, arthritis, celiac disease and even cancer.” (164)

In a chapter titled Weed Killer for Dinner, Hari states “I am not fundamentally against biotechnology. I’m not even necessarily against all GMO food, although I acknowledge that certain experts stress how much uncertainty remains about their safety. As was noted by researchers at New York University, genetically modified foods (also known as GMOs, or genetically modified organisms) represent a massive experiment conducted on nature. I believe companies pushing such products should present their evidence that they are not causing harm, either to people or to the ecosystems we depend upon. Companies should also clearly label their food product so consumers are informed that they contain GMOs… To me, it feels like common sense. However, what I am strongly against are the chemicals that almost always go hand-in-hand with genetically modified crops.” Boom. This is something that Sadie’s Nest has addressed many times. The most blatant offense being glyphosate, a chemical found in an extremely popular weed killer. Crops, to withstand being sprayed with this weed killer, are genetically modified to be weed killer resistant. They are then grown and excessively sprayed with the weed killer to eliminate the weeds around them. Some people have even started referring to the process as “agricultural heroine” because many farmers are so addicted to it, and the amounts needed are steadily increasing; because resistant weeds are also increasing. It’s a vicious cycle of chemicals that are ultimately present in the daily foods we eat. This chemical wreaks all kind of havoc (known, unknown, and denied) on our health. It is considered an “endocrine disruptor” in addition to stimulating overproduction of estrogen, messing with the hormones and function of males and females; contributing to breast cancer (not to mention a variety of gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease and gluten intolerance.) The health risks associated with this chemical are astounding, but not nearly as astonishing as the efforts to cover up these findings. The influence the advocates for such chemicals has on our countries agricultural system (such as the EPA) is remarkable; even getting the amount of “safe” levels increased in 2013, regardless of substantial scientific research supported by the World Health Organization opposing the same chemicals. Mind boggling.

For years I’ve been on board with not feeding my family harmful pesticides and “Franken foods” aka, GMOs; but what I often don’t see is the data referenced in Feeding You Lies, which not only shows organic foods containing lower levels of toxic heavy metals, but actually containing an increase of nutritional value. For example, A 2014 statistical analysis in the British Journal of Nutrition found up to 69% more antioxidants in organic food versus their non-organic counterparts (186). It seems like most articles I read spend a lot of time trying to prove the contrary; that there is no significant difference in nutritional value of organic versus non-organic. Of course commonsense has always told me otherwise, and the conscious decision to not eat poison was enough for me regardless.

Also tackled in Hari’s book, is the common message of Big Food that claims pesticides are needed to help “feed the world.” Experts at the U.N. recently warned that “pesticides end up in our water systems, damage our ecological system, contaminate soils, and are responsible for bee deaths, and are a huge environmental threat to the future of food production. The issue of world hunger is due to poverty, inequality, and distribution – not lack of food.” (191)

Lastly, I appreciate that Hari designates responsibility on the individual. She encourages everyone to do their own research. (And pay attention to who is funding the study.) She suggests three questions: What are the ingredients? Are the ingredients nutritious? Where did these ingredients come from? (198)

Ultimately the responsibility is our own, and the solution is clear: Eat Whole Foods! Eat not-processed, single-ingredient fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, and lean meats- all organic if possible. And, as much as possible, cook at home- so you know what you’re eating!

I can stand behind that.

Research Sites available for local farm options are:

LocalHarvest.org and EatWild.com