Chapter 1: Understanding the Food Industry's Hidden Dangers

When shopping for groceries, do you pay attention to the ingredients, or do you simply grab whatever catches your eye? Many people assume that food is just food, but that’s exactly what the food industry wants us to think.

For years, I purchased items from local grocery stores like Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Tesco without a second thought about their ingredients. This changed when I encountered the insights of Dr. Eric Berg and Eddie Abbew. If you’re reading this, it likely means you are either health-conscious or curious about enhancing your well-being.

If this piques your interest in the questionable practices of the billion-dollar food industry, keep reading.

Let's examine bread, pastries, and bakery items. Who doesn’t enjoy indulging in sweet treats? Ideally, these products should consist of no more than five or six natural ingredients, such as flour, salt, yeast, butter, sugar, and milk. Anything beyond these is typically a chemical additive that can disrupt the beneficial microbes in our digestive system, potentially leading to a condition known as leaky gut. It’s important to note that sugar has been found to be more addictive than cocaine, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. If a substance as addictive as sugar is readily available and normalized, it raises serious concerns about the food industry's priorities regarding our health.

If you want to delve deeper into this topic, here’s a summary from Ramsay Healthcare: Is Sugar More Addictive Than Cocaine | Ramsay Healthcare.

However, today I will explore more than just sugar; we will uncover some lesser-known toxins.

Section 1.1: The Role of Industrial Fibers

To meet consumer demands while cutting costs, food manufacturers have turned to industrial fibers. You might wonder what these are. Let's first clarify what real fibers do. Found in vegetables, they play a crucial role in aiding digestion and preventing constipation. In contrast, industrial fibers can disrupt this process because our bodies struggle to digest them. Major food corporations often label these fibers as plant-based carbohydrates, known as cellulose, which sounds less alarming than their true origins—sawdust or wood pulp. Other indigestible fibers that can harm our gut include soluble corn fiber, tapioca fiber, and resistant dextrin.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Impact of Emulsifiers

Another concern is emulsifiers, which are used to blend ingredients and create desirable textures in food. These substances can disrupt the gut’s healthy microbiome and protective barriers. Common emulsifiers found on food labels include maltodextrin, xanthan gum, monoglycerides, and propylene glycol, which is actually antifreeze—a substance that most car owners are familiar with.

You might be thinking about how to remember all these scientific names, let alone watch out for them. That's a valid concern, which is why I’ve made it easier for you. Below, you’ll find a downloadable card from Dr. Berg that lists four dangerous ingredients to avoid. You can save the image from my Medium page or access it directly through Dr. Berg's website.

Chapter 2: The Dark Side of the Food Industry

The food industry harbors many secrets, some of which can significantly impact our health.

The first video, "The Dark Side of The Food Industry: How The Standard Diet Is Making Us Sick & Fat" by Jason Karp, explores how the standard diet can negatively affect our health.

Additionally,

the second video, "How The Food Industry Is Slowly KILLING US - What You Need To Know!" by Calley Means, delves into the alarming practices of the food industry and their impact on our well-being.