Real Food versus "Real Food": Hot Dogs

Image Credits: i.dailymail.co.uk

     An American Classic, the hot dog! When we think about hot dogs we imagine a picnic with the kids in the park, playing baseball, and the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. We would never think that a hot dog is one of the most harmful food items we can order at the concession stand. Let's have a look to see what type of harmful chemicals are used to make our favorite past time food item.

List of Ingredients

1. ›Mechanically separated meat›  
• Paste-like or batter-like product by forcing bones with attached edible tissue through a device under high pressure.
• Since 1994, Meat can be taken off the bone by advanced meat recovery machinery
2. ›Water
• ›less than 10%
3. ›Corn Syrup
• ›Made from corn (Omega-6 has flammatory properties)
• High sugar intake leads to diabetes and other health problems
• ›linked to health concerns and cancers
• ›Used for texture and taste
4. ›Potassium lactate
• ›common meat preservative
5. ›Sodium phosphate
• ›3 sodium salt phosphoric acids
• ›Used for texture and as preservative
• High salt intake leads to hypertension aka high blood pressure
6. ›Flavorings
• ›Most chemical combinations can be listed as “flavorings”.
7. ›Beef stock
• ›Made from joints, bones, connective tissue of beef carcass.
• Not made from REAL MEAT
8. ›Sodium diacetate
• ›Artificial flavor for salt and vinegar chips
• More CHEMICALS
9. ›Sodium erythorbate
• ›Preservative that keeps meat pink
• Nitrates are known causes of cancer in animals. 
• ›Links to dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, kidney stones, & cancer
10. ›Maltodextrin
• ›(another form of sugar) cooked from starch
• ›Used for a thickener and filler
11. ›Sodium Nitrate 
• preservative known to cause cancer in animals
• high sodium intakes lead to hypertension aka high blood pressure
• ›Increases risk of cancer, it is found in fireworks and fertilizers
12. 
    

      Now do you still want to eat pre-packaged hot dogs from the supermarket or ball park? It is more than obvious these CHEMICALS are not what you intended on feeding your kids with. Even if they are more cheaper than buying the handmade ones from your meat market they are full of chemicals that are harmful to your health. Learn to be a lot smarter when you buy food for your family and friends!  

Real Food versus "Real Food"!

Image Credits: www.dreamstime.com

     Usually every time I have a new client problems arise from them or their family members about "Real Food". I put these words in parenthesis because the majority of society is brainwashed into thinking foods that are made up of chemicals are REAL FOODS. Let us take a look at a favorite ingredient that is in NACHOS: VELVEETA CHEESE

Image Credits: blogs.artinfo.com

• Ingredient List:
• Milk
• Water
• Milk Protein Concentrate:
• is any type of concentrated milk product that contains 40–90% milk protein. The United States officially defines MPC as “any complete milk protein (casein plus lactalbumin) concentrate that is 40 percent or more protein by weight.”^[1] In addition to ultrafiltered milk products, the MPC classification includes concentrates made through other processes, such as blending nonfat dry milk with highly concentrated proteins, such as casein (Wikipedia.com)
• Milk Fat
• ›butter fat taken from milk during processing

• Whey Protein Concentrate:
• is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production.
  Whey protein is commonly marketed and ingested as a dietary supplement, and various health claims have been attributed to it in the alternative medicine community
• Health Effects
• The use of whey protein as a source of amino acids and its effect on reducing the risks of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes has been the focus of ongoing research as of 2007.^[13] Whey is an abundant source of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs),^[14] which are used to stimulate protein synthesis.^[15] When leucine is ingested in high amounts, such as with whey protein supplementation, there is greater stimulation of protein synthesis, which may speed recovery and adaptation to stress (exercise).

• Sodium Phosphate
• is a generic term for a variety of salts of sodium (Na⁺) and phosphate (PO₄^3-) 
• has many applications in the food industry and for water treatment. For example, sodium phosphates are often used as leavening agents for baked goods. They are used to control pH of processed foods.^[2] They are also used in medicine for constipation and to prepare the bowel for medical procedures.
• Health Effects
• can cause serious kidney damage and possibly death. In some cases, this damage was permanent, and some people whose kidneys were damaged had to be treated with dialysis (treatment to remove waste from the blood when the kidneys are not working well). (Medline Plus Health Information)
• Salt (less than 2%)
• Salt is present in most foods, but in naturally occurring foodstuffs such as meats, vegetables and fruit, it is present in very small quantities. It is often added to processed foods to make their flavour more appealing and is also present at higher levels in preserved foods. (Wikipedia)
• Health Effects (heart.org)
• Excess levels of sodium/salt may put you at risk for:
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Stroke
  • Heart Failure
  • Osteoperosis
  • Stomach Cancer
  • Kidney Disease
  • Kidney Stones
  • Enlarged Heart Muscle
  • Headaches
  YOUR APPEARANCE
  Excess levels of sodium may cause:
  INCREASED WATER RETENTION, LEADING TO
  • Puffiness
  • Bloating
  • Weight Gain
• Calcium Phosphate
• Any of three powdery phosphates of calcium:
•  A colorless powder used in baking powders, as a plant food, as a plastic stabilizer, and in glass. Calciumphosphate is deliquescent, and will dissolve in the water it absorbs from the atmosphere if it is not kept in aclosed container. Chemical formula: Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.
• A white crystalline powder used as an animal food, as a plastic stabilizer, and in glass and toothpaste.Chemical formula: CaHPO₄.
• A white powder that is used in ceramics, rubber, fertilizers, and for various purposes in the food industry.Chemical formula: Ca₃(PO₄)₂. (thefreedictionary.com)
• Health Effects (nytimes.com)
• Most symptoms are seen with severe exposures and overdoses.
  • Lungs
    • Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)
    • Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)
  • Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • Severe pain in the throat
    • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
    • Loss of vision
  • Gastrointestinal
    • Severe abdominal pain
    • Intestinal obstruction
    • Vomiting
    • Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
    • Vomiting blood
    • Blood in the stool
    • Nausea
    • Decreased appetite
    • Constipation
  • Heart and blood vessels
    • Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly
    • Collapse
  • Skin
    • Irritation
    • Burn
    • Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues
  • Blood
    • Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs)
  • Nervous system
    • Confusion
    • Delirium
    • Stupor (lack of alertness)
    • Coma
• Lactic Acid
• Lactic acid is found primarily in sour milk products, such as koumiss, laban, yogurt, kefir, some cottage cheeses, andkombucha. The casein in fermented milk is coagulated (curdled) by lactic acid. Lactic acid is also responsible for the sour flavor of sourdough breads.
• Lactic acid is used as a food preservative, curing agent, and flavoring agent. It is an ingredient in processed foods and is used as a decontaminant during meat processing.Lactic acid is produced commercially by fermentation of carbohydrates such as glucose, sucrose, or lactose, or by chemical synthesis.Carbohydrate sources include corn, beets, and cane sugar. (wikipedia)
• Sorbic Acid
• Sorbic acid is a natural, organic preservative frequently used to maintain the freshness of a variety of human foods, drugs, and cosmetic products. Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid possess antifungal, and to a lesser extent antibacterial, properties. (healthline.com)
• Sodium Aginate
• ›found in cell walls of brown algae. Used to absorb water
• As a flavorless gum, it is used by the foods industry to increase viscosity and as an emulsifier. It is also used in indigestion tablets and the preparation of dental impressions
• Health Effects

• Increased Blood Pressure

• 
  

  Poor Bone Health

• 
  

  Congestive Heart Failure

• Sodium Citrate
• Used as an emulsifier in cheese to melt without oily residue ›
• Health Effects: Side 
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash/itching, tingling or numbness on hands and feet, irregular heartbeats, metal/mood changes, muscle spasms, and seizures
• Enzymes
• extracted from tissues of animals. Rennet for cheese making is found in the stomach of baby cows.
• Apocaretenal
• ›Found in spinach and citrus. It is used for the orange color.
•  Health effects: 
• Yellowing of the skin and large doses can be toxic
• Annatto
• ›Seeds from Achoite tree. Used for yellow and orange coloring.
• ›Health effects: 
• Not safe for pregnant women or breast-feeding and affects blood sugar levels
• Cheese Culture
• ›Lactic acid and other microorganisms  used in cheese making

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My husband sabotaging my journey!

Well back in 2009, the morning after I was proclaiming my new ways, my husband tried to sabotage my diet with a taco from Stripes with refried beans, eggs, cheese, bacon and flour tortilla. This is obviously a very fattening taco and in the past I used to believe it would give my energy to workout. Of course at the beginning of my journey I was not a professional yet. I did not understand how many calories and fat that breakfast taco contained. I just knew I could not eat this stuff all the time. but I am very honest in my blog to show that no one is perfect.

Let's breakdown how much calories this Stripes taco had:

• 1 large white flour tortilla 

Calories 143.52 Calories from Fat  30
% Daily Value
Total Fat 3.57g	5%
Saturated Fat 0.87g	4%
Trans Fat 0.49g

• Refried Beans: 3 tablespoons

Calories 44.42 Calories from Fat  5
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0.6g	1%
Saturated Fat 0.22g	1%
Trans Fat 0g

• American Shredded Cheese: 1/4 cup

Nutrition Facts
Calories 110 Calories from Fat  80
% Daily Value
Total Fat 9g	14%
Saturated Fat 6g	30%
Trans Fat 0g

• 1 large fried egg

Calories 90.16 Calories from Fat  60
% Daily Value
Total Fat 7.04g	11%
Saturated Fat 1.98g	10%
Trans Fat 9.2g

• 1 slice of fried bacon

Calories 34.26 Calories from Fat  25
% Daily Value
Total Fat 2.65g	4%
Saturated Fat 0.87g	4%
Trans Fat 0g

• Total calculations:
• Calories: 422.36
• Calories from Fat: 200
• Total Fat: 23.04 g
• Saturated Fat: 9.94 g
• Trans Fat: 9.69

You will have a loved one trying to sabotage your diet or workout from time to time. What I did before was to I eat something else or I thought it would give me energy before a workout. In reality, with all the fat in this taco it actually would rob my body from the energy it needed to workout! Oxygen Magazine gives great suggestions like drinking a lot of water or chicken broth or something healthy before you eat bad food. You can cheat, but you can not make it a habit. The calories will add up very fast and it will only leave you upset and depressed of how you let yourself down. I cheat once or twice a week but not the whole day. During contest prep it is a different story. I believe it is good to cheat sometimes so that you do not drive yourself crazy during your first steps to eating healthy. You have to remember that your body is used to eating crap and just like a drug addict you will more than likely fail going "cold turkey".

Let's revamp that taco to a healthy one I now make at home

• 1 Medium size Whole Wheat Flour Tortilla 

Calories 95.23 Calories from Fat  25
% Daily Value
Total Fat 2.67g	4%
Saturated Fat 0.33g	2%
Trans Fat 0g

• Mashed Pinto Beans Cooked 3 tablespoons

Calories 45.85 Calories from Fat  1.9
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0.21g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.04g	0%
Trans Fat 0g

• Fat-Free Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 1 serving

Calories 40 Calories from Fat  0
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Trans Fat 0g

• Egg Whites 1 serving

Calories 50.1 Calories from Fat  0
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Trans Fat 0g

• 1 slice of Turkey Bacon

Calories 54.15 Calories from Fat  35
% Daily Value
Total Fat 3.95g	6%
Saturated Fat 1.18g	6%
Trans Fat 0g

• Total Calculations
• Calories: 285.33
• Calories from Fat: 61.9
• Total Fat: 6.83 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.55 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g

• Making your own food with wiser choices is the smart way to lose weight!
• Mindlessly eating will NOT GET YOU TO YOUR FITNESS GOALS!

When I lost my first 7 pounds, my husband was very supportive even though he would sabotage me sometimes. However, I noticed some of my friends and acquaintances gave me comments I did not expect to hear! From an ex: "Do not lose any more or you are going to disappear," or "27 in waist is too small" That was coming from a girlfriend who had a waist that was 24". Was she a little jealous? Maybe she felt threatened. To be honest, at first the comments blew my mind away, but afterwards it only made me want to accomplish my goals even more.

Now that we are in 2014, most of those girls I do not hang out with anymore. Many of them have said they would invite me somewhere, but they did not want me to dissect their food choices. Which I do not understand why they would think I would be that way. To me they did not want me around because I now look better than them. Their loss, not mine.  That is the way you should take any negative comments in your life. Do not get mad, because that is the the reaction they want. Smile and keep on going!