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What is a no-no for you?

  • 17-08-2009 12:32AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm curious as to whether there are specific ingredients that people avoid in foods/drinks.

    I avoid a few things, namely: Hydrogenated fats/oils (trans fats), Aspartame, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and Potassium Chloride.

    So, do you avoid anything like the plague? Or do you mind what's in your food?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166 ✭✭Stella89


    Very interesting topic , could you maybe add why you choose to avoid these as well ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,733 ✭✭✭jam_mac_jam


    Trans fats would be one I would try and avoid if I can, that's it really, eating hummus now instead of flora type things .
    most things that are not good for me I just try and eat less of. The one food I cannot eat is butter, yes yes I know its good for you but I cant get the calorie count out of my head, same thing for coconut milk just cant get past the calorie count even though I know its good for you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,260 ✭✭✭Mink


    white bread


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,114 ✭✭✭corkcomp


    Mink wrote: »
    white bread

    +1 - it has to be the most pointless food ever created and doesnt even taste of anything .. I would rather have a bar of chocolate any day instead of while bread and I doubt it would be much worse


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 342 ✭✭antoniosicily


    corkcomp wrote: »
    +1 - it has to be the most pointless food ever created and doesnt even taste of anything ..

    buy some good white bread, then we can discuss about the taste


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,386 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    buy some good white bread, then we can discuss about the taste
    Buy some good chocolate and we can still argue ;):pac:

    I would rather give kids oats and a mini mars as a treat in the morning than most cereals, i.e. a bribe to eat the oats, though I expect most would gladly eat oat pancakes, as long as you don't tell they they are good for them!

    I also view white bread as a total waste, some presume it is not so bad since it is so bland. I view it as a completely different food to 100% wholemeal/wholegrain bread.
    Potassium Chloride
    Why that in particular? would you favour sodium chloride, lo-lo salt is a blend of both, inferring the potassium salt is not as "bad".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,383 ✭✭✭emeraldstar


    Mink wrote: »
    white bread
    Yep. Not only is it crap I find it far far far less tasty than wholegrain.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    rubadub wrote: »


    Why that in particular? would you favour sodium chloride, lo-lo salt is a blend of both, inferring the potassium salt is not as "bad".

    I get a headache every time I eat something with potassium chloride in it.

    Also people don't realise how dangerous too much potassium can be...or what it's in, even. So I don't particularly want to have it added to things because it's assumed it's "better" than real salt.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    For me it's a long list :)

    Gluten (It's in everything - why!) - implicated in everything from promoting inflammation to exacerbating auto-immune diseases
    Wheat
    Refined Corn (Including modified maize starch)
    Any industrial seed oils (also in everything)
    Aspartame
    Soy of any kind (messes with the thyroid and inhibits mineral absorption)
    Refined fructose - only second to wheat in its ability to promote the accumulation of belly fat.

    I went completely paleo (no dairy, legumes or nightshades) for a little while too, reintroduced dairy, but only as a 'garnish' for variety, still stay from the legumes as they make me feel awful when I eat them.

    Generally, the golden rule applies for me, 'If it has to list ingredients, it's probably best to avoid'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,462 ✭✭✭Orla K


    My list is fairly simple I just avoid excess sugar and salt. I still eat them but if I can avoid doing so I will.

    Salt - blood pressure and heart problems run in the family
    Sugar - diabeties might run in the family.

    Other than that I just go for what's healthiest or what I'm in the mood for.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,962 ✭✭✭jumpguy


    buy some good white bread, then we can discuss about the taste
    +1

    Taste some fresh, just-baked, crusted white bread and not that Pat the Baker or processed bread crap and you'll see how addictive white bread can be.

    It's still not good for you though.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,368 Mod ✭✭✭✭RacoonQueen


    Yeah white bread for me too. Didn't eat sandwiches for years growing up because I didn't like the taste, soon as I was old enough to buy my own food/influence what was being bought I started eating brown bread and hey presto sandwiches are my best friend. Same goes for white rice and pasta...hated them growing up and now eat the brown equivilants. There's nothing else I can think of that I purposely avoid, I eat what I want when I want really...it's just that I generally crave fruit and salad nowadays as opposed to cake and sweets.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    Ah yeah, white bread for me as well. I missed it for a while because I did quite like the taste...but I don't miss it at all now.

    Would also avoid things with excessive amounts of salt and sugar. Just 'cause they're bad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    rubadub wrote: »
    I expect most would gladly eat oat pancakes, as long as you don't tell they they are good for them!

    Mine do. Most mornings.

    Things I avoid: Simple carbs. That's about it. I do love them though. Good white bread is delicious IMO.

    I add salt to food sometimes and use Aspartame all the time. Why? Salt because I sweat a lot so I'm not concerned about adding it to my diet. Aspartame because there's no reason that I shouldn't and it reduces the simple carbs in my diet.

    can-o-worms.gif


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,386 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Khannie wrote: »
    Salt because I sweat a lot so I'm not concerned about adding it to my diet. Aspartame because there's no reason that I shouldn't and it reduces the simple carbs in my diet.
    I drink a lot of water to offset my salt intake. It would be interested if posters avoiding aspartame avoid all sweeteners, e.g. I have seen some favouring sucralose over it.

    And tinned worms :rolleyes: processed muck, get some fresh ones into you!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 525 ✭✭✭ya-what-now?


    Excuse my naiivitaaay, but what exactly is Aspartame? Is it just sweetners (like sweet n low / candarel) that it's in? Why is it bad for you


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭Magic Eight Ball


    I could make a long list but processed meat in general gets my vote.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    rubadub wrote: »
    I drink a lot of water to offset my salt intake.

    Sorry if this is common knowledge or a silly question...but is it really as simple as that?


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Excuse my naiivitaaay, but what exactly is Aspartame? Is it just sweetners (like sweet n low / candarel) that it's in? Why is it bad for you

    Aspartame is the most common low calorie sweetener.

    It's in all diet coke and diet sodas, sugar free jelly, canderel, sugar free chewing gum and even bulmer's light, basically anywhere where a low cal sweetener is required and unless specifically specified otherwise, for example if splenda is used they usually advertise the fact on the front of the product.

    The jury is out on aspartame, mainly as the japanese company who patented are incredibly litigious to anyone who makes a claim against it publicly.

    It has been linked to tumour growth as well as chronic fatigue. I know a girl who used to get facial numbness, when she cut out all aspartame it went away.

    Noone is sure that it's bad for you but the FDA have begun to reassess it's approval recently.

    Cargill, the coca-cola company have patented a refined form of stevia, which is a the leaf of the stevia plant. It's called truvia and you can expect to see it in coca-cola's diet drinks soon, but it's safety isn't guaranteed either.

    I use a small amount of splenda when required but generally stay clear of artificial sweetners, you'd be amazed how quickly your palette adjusts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    I know a girl who had a wide variety of symptoms including fatigue, hair loss, headaches etc...after loads of hospital tests came back clear, she associated it with Aspartame. She used to chew gum like there was no tomorrow...so she stopped and the symptoms disappeared.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    generally stay clear of artificial sweetners, you'd be amazed how quickly your palette adjusts.

    I honestly don't see any reason for avoiding aspartame at all. The "cancer link" thing is:

    a) for rats
    and
    b) in dosages so high that you can't seriously consider them

    I haven't yet come across one scientifically backed argument that says that the gram or so a day that I have will do anything other than reduce my sugar intake.

    Saying that a company is litigious when there are false claims made about it is like saying that I'm aggressive when my family's under attack. It's natural behaviour. If it were your company and somebody was making spurious statements, you'd sue their asses too and let's be fair...Aspartame is given a lot of guff with zero scientific backing. Now I'm not saying it's brilliant stuff, only that I have no fear of using it and I have done the relevant investigation.
    I know a girl who had a wide variety of symptoms including fatigue, hair loss, headaches etc...after loads of hospital tests came back clear, she associated it with Aspartame. She used to chew gum like there was no tomorrow...so she stopped and the symptoms disappeared.

    That's really bad pseudo science to be fair. Are you sure she always chewed gum flavoured with aspartame? How can you be sure it wasn't the chewing action? Was there any change in her diet after she stopped chewing gum? Any change in her sleeping patterns? Stress levels? etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

    Humans are just way to complex to imply anything like that on a single case that hasn't been very clearly documented.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,114 ✭✭✭corkcomp


    Khannie wrote: »
    I honestly don't see any reason for avoiding aspartame at all. The "cancer link" thing is:

    a) for rats
    and
    b) in dosages so high that you can't seriously consider them

    I haven't yet come across one scientifically backed argument that says that the gram or so a day that I have will do anything other than reduce my sugar intake.

    Saying that a company is litigious when there are false claims made about it is like saying that I'm aggressive when my family's under attack. It's natural behaviour. If it were your company and somebody was making spurious statements, you'd sue their asses too and let's be fair...Aspartame is given a lot of guff with zero scientific backing. Now I'm not saying it's brilliant stuff, only that I have no fear of using it and I have done the relevant investigation.



    That's really bad pseudo science to be fair. Are you sure she always chewed gum flavoured with aspartame? How can you be sure it wasn't the chewing action? Was there any change in her diet after she stopped chewing gum? Any change in her sleeping patterns? Stress levels? etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

    Humans are just way to complex to imply anything like that on a single case that hasn't been very clearly documented.

    just a quick point on the chewing gum - was it sugar free stuff like orbit extra?? I used to go through a few packs a day of this stuff and it can cause many of the issues listed above due to the polyols - they actually prevent a lot of nutrients being absorbed from your food and also act as a laxative to some extent .. I doubt sweetners cause cancer but like most other things they are not good in excess


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    Khannie wrote: »
    That's really bad pseudo science to be fair. Are you sure she always chewed gum flavoured with aspartame? How can you be sure it wasn't the chewing action? Was there any change in her diet after she stopped chewing gum? Any change in her sleeping patterns? Stress levels? etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

    Humans are just way to complex to imply anything like that on a single case that hasn't been very clearly documented.

    Yes she always chewed gum with aspartame. The only change was the gum. I'm not suggesting that would happen to everyone...but that's how her body seemed to react to the amount she was having.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Khannie wrote: »
    I honestly don't see any reason for avoiding aspartame at all. The "cancer link" thing is:

    a) for rats
    and
    b) in dosages so high that you can't seriously consider them

    I haven't yet come across one scientifically backed argument that says that the gram or so a day that I have will do anything other than reduce my sugar intake.

    That's fair enough, you've made a decision for yourself based on the evidence you've seen, I've done likewise. Neither of us can say for sure.

    I don't really want to take something that causes cancer in any animal, cancer pathology is very similar in most organisms, and animals get get cancer from the same known carcinogens that we do.

    And of course every poison is dose-dependent, it doesn't mean it won't have a cumulative effect over time. In fact, this generation is unique in that we are the first generation to consume aspartame regularly in large numbers. Diet soda's were invented in the 1950's but only gained mass popularity in the 1970's when cyclamates were used and then later banned by the FDA for links with cancer.

    It's a big experiment with human subjects as to whether these substances are safe. I choose not to partake in that experiment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,386 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Sorry if this is common knowledge or a silly question...but is it really as simple as that?
    I don't know TBH. I know if you drink loads of water you do need to increase your salt intake (if it is normal) otherwise the water could become toxic, (like how people die from water taking too much while high on E). So I figure it at least combats my high salt intake (which I will not reduce much more).
    Aspartame is the most common low calorie sweetener.

    It's in all diet coke and diet sodas
    Some sodas are changing, I heard M&S diet cola has sucarlose, so does tesco premium diet cola, which is quite nice.
    How can you be sure it wasn't the chewing action?
    I have read about chewing action and how it tricks your body into thinking it is about to get food, so can trigger various digestion mechanisms.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    rubadub wrote: »
    I have read about chewing action and how it tricks your body into thinking it is about to get food, so can trigger various digestion mechanisms.

    That's weird that you say that because it SF chewing gum gives me awful pains in my stomach, I always thought it was the polyols but maybe it was the chewing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    That's weird that you say that because it SF chewing gum gives me awful pains in my stomach, I always thought it was the polyols but maybe it was the chewing.

    Oh yeah....gum's very harsh on the stomach alright. I used to chew it every day but noticed the effects on the ol' tum tum so I've more or less stopped (sometimes I'll still have it like....you know yourself....if you need that instant clean mouth feeling it's great).


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