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Posted 1/28/2010 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Today I happened to pick up a bag of animal crackers while in the supermarket-- because it fell off the shelf. Out of curiosity I started reading the ingredients in the (brandname) crackers: "fractionated palm oil" was one of them! Anybody ever hear of that? (Sounds yucky-- especially in a product intended for kids!) / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 1/28/2010 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Old Hat, I totally read labels now. Since I have UC and my husband is Diabetic, it's really important. You couldn't believe my reaction when I looked at the foods I had in my refrigerator that I thought was healthy food...such as pickles...and come to find out they have high fructose corn syrup in them. What? In pickles? So I checked our 5 grain crackers....hfcs. We really have to be careful don't we? And yes, it is frustrating. I've been shopping Whole Foods because I know they don't carry anything with the hfcs in it. I've gotten it down to knowing the brands I like, and if I find them at other stores a bit cheaper, then I'll buy them there. It's a never ending battle! Maybe if we start protesting and stop buying these foods, the manufacturers will get the hint?
Posted 1/28/2010 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
Yes Old Hat that does sound scary and that's one of the reasons why I don't buy foods that have lables, cuz I don't eat/drink anything processed anymore...makes it faster to grocery shop that way too.

:)
Posted 1/28/2010 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
I just read that same label last week & was HORRIFIED! No more of those for the kiddies. Thus proving once again...how important it is
to educate ourselves about the food we all eat!
Posted 1/28/2010 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
"Producers of palm oil can sell the pure oil, or use a fractional distillation process to extract various components of the oil, which have a variety of uses.

Palm oil is high in saturated fat, and it is often very close to solid at room temperature, unless it is specially treated. The high saturated fat also makes palm oil a great cooking oil, because it is able to withstand very high heat, and it will not break down or change when heated. However, this also makes palm oil a less than ideal oil, healthwise, because saturated fat is generally believed to be harmful when consumed in large amounts."
Posted 1/28/2010 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
It's crazy what we've allowed these companies to put in our food and get away with. So in essence, you'd be better off eating some lard? Yuck! I'm with Pb4; it's better to eat whole foods with no label as often as you can.

Posted 1/28/2010 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Totally agreed but I put the blame on consumers for purchasing these foods! If people wouldn't purchase processed foods companies would no longer make them. It doesn't take an educated person to realize that cookies baked from scratch stay fresh for only 5 days but the ones you buy off the shelf can last a year, for example. One might make the mental leap that foods that last that long must have additives in it that aren't needed or wanted. I can't tell you when I last ate a store bought cookie, or processed foods, yuck!

Sue
Posted 1/28/2010 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wondering about HFCS. I was drinking a lot of gatorade to try and stay hydrated and I swear it made me feel worse...
Posted 1/28/2010 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
You know the fact is...eating healthy seems to be so costly! Is it just me? I mean even produce prices are absurd (at least in my neck of the woods!)
I also can remember as a child, we had trouble trying to afford "better alternatives" & as much as times have changed, it's a fact that these big companies
know people will continue to buy it b/c the alternative is just to much money & they target the working class b/c of the convenience factor.
Hopefully as the assortments continue to grow in the mainstream supermarkets, the prices will continue to come down a bit. I have noticed much more advertised prices on some of the good for ya stuff lately :)
Posted 1/28/2010 11:51 PM (GMT 0)

I do agree with the cost being more in most cases.  Aside from that I live in the country (sticks) and we don't have Whole Food stores or health food stores - just regular grocery stores that have few, if anything, healthy aside from fresh.  Now I was told not to eat raw food but I can buy veggies and fruit to cook or canned without syrup, etc.  I have been eating lowfat/low residue since being diagnosed almost two years.  Since October I have been in about 90% remission - good and bad days but no blood and very little diarrhea.  Sometimes even have hard stools.  So, yesterday I was hungry for lettuce/tomato salad.  I had a medium serving.  So, today I had to take Imodium (and don't usually anymore)  YUCK!  Back to cooking everything and no salad!!  I can tolerate a slice of tomato or lettuce but not a salad.

I am 69 - brought up on piecrust made with Crisco, etc. and admit to being addicted to sugar, etc.  I have cut out all artificial sweeteners.  Once lost almost 100 lbs. eating a lot of "diet" food and don't think the sweeteners hurt me at all.  I developed IBS after aspartame came out but stoppping it did not help really.  I just decided to eat only sugar or Stevia and less of it.  Still have problems with cookies but working on it.  Best way would be to cook everything including your kids animal cookies but who can do that or will do that and in my case can't do that (physically).  We all just do what we can to feel better.  Today I had peanut butter and white toast for breakfast and dinner and cheese sandwich for lunch.  In the middle 2 small cookies and 6 saltines - things I know will agree with me!

ElaineNY

Posted 1/29/2010 3:26 AM (GMT 0)

mom2threehasU/C said...
You know the fact is...eating healthy seems to be so costly! Is it just me? I mean even produce prices are absurd (at least in my neck of the woods!)
I also can remember as a child, we had trouble trying to afford "better alternatives" & as much as times have changed, it's a fact that these big companies
know people will continue to buy it b/c the alternative is just to much money & they target the working class b/c of the convenience factor.
Hopefully as the assortments continue to grow in the mainstream supermarkets, the prices will continue to come down a bit. I have noticed much more advertised prices on some of the good for ya stuff lately :)

 

 

 

Eating unhealthy is actually more costly when you look at what it does to your health and the price you pay with your health and health care as a result...eating healthy like fruits and veggies are more filling (fibre) compared to eating junk, so infact it takes more junk to "fill up" on than it does healthy food.  Plus there are other places to shop for healthy foods than just the big chain grocery stores, like garden markets, they have better quality, fresher and better prices, or buying from hutterites (directly from them or where ever they sell at flea markets...there's always choices.

 

 

:)

Posted 1/29/2010 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Also, I've paid more for a crappy bag of chips than I have for a bag of apples (though I no longer buy chips/junk)...plus there are alternatives if you cannot afford fresh fruit/veggies, buy them frozen/bulk, it's still cheaper than buying junk food and healthier too.

:)
Posted 1/29/2010 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Choices here are very limited but you are so right.  I am just so used to eating unhealthy food - but I keep trying.  As I can't eat raw food I think frozen is next best because of sodium, etc.  Just gotta read the labels.  We only have markets in the summer so many months we rely on Florida/California/Puerto Rico, etc. for our food.  A VERY small container of blueberries today for my husband (I can't stand them anyway) was $3.00. 

You know we don't have to pay anything for our health care so maybe that would help us if we did because you are so right about it being cheaper to be healthy if you are paying!!

I highly recommend a change for all those of you under 60 anyway - never too late to feel better and possibly prevent something else from getting your body!

The healthiest thing I have been doing is making my husband homemade soup.  For me it was salad yesterday and I got very sick - D, etc. so no more of that!

Take care of yourself - no one else is going to.

Elaine

Posted 1/29/2010 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know where you live kops2da, I live in Alberta, Canada and can say we don't pay for our health care either (out of pocket in the sense as when we go to the doc or whatever) but in actuality we do pay for it via our taxes, as I think everyone does pay one way or another...even healthy people that take good care of themselves and only see the doc once a yr for chekcups pay for their health and everyone elses, we all do (pay for ourselves and for everyone elses in a round about way).

There are tons of choices as far as whole/natural foods go, you're only limited to what you limit yourself to, and I agree, we have to take care of ourselves.

:)
Posted 1/29/2010 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
problem with labels is you have to trust the company thats writing the label
they put one thing on the label and totally different stuff in the packet
labelling laws are pretty lax in some countries
eg melanine substitute in baby's formula
Posted 1/29/2010 12:57 PM (GMT 0)

I probably should have explained about not paying for medical.  My husband is a retired disabled veteran (got a Purple Heart in Vietnam) so his medical including everything is free at the Veterans hospital and we have a wonderful one here.  Because he is retired from Army I get supplement insurance from the Government to pay ANYTHING that Medicare does not pay.  I only pay $3 for prescriptions for one month supply so I do pay a little.  I also pay what they call Part B of Medicare which is about $100 a month - sorry I forgot about that as you never see it.  48 years we have not had to pay insurance because of his military service.  BUT - of course, he paid when working as he paid taxes.  We just feel very lucky and I never think about it until I come here and find people who can't afford their medications and treatments and I feel bad.  I can have anything Medicare approves but there is no cure for UC except surgery!  I am having a knee replacement this summer and it is completely paid for.

I would like to comment that both of us would rather pay and be healthy!!

ElaineNY

Posted 1/29/2010 1:02 PM (GMT 0)

Just one more comment about food.  I would like you to come to me with my grocery and see what you can find - aside from very expensive fruit and veggies that I can't eat raw - that is healthy!  I have been reading the labels and believe the frozen is probably still the best way to go for me since my store does not have "health" food of any kind.  Reading labels - everything is full of sodium which we are not supposed to have. Even some of so called "fresh" meat has sodium added.

 When weather is better we will drive to a better store that does have a health department - about 35 miles.  We just can't get out in this weather since I can't walk without a cane or walker and my husband has a serious back injury problem. So back to my white bread with pb every morning and homemade soups for my husband.  WE eat eggs and very lean beef mostly - with little chicken baked.

ElaineNY

Posted 1/29/2010 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I am Thankful we CAN afford the good stuff. I am saddened to make the point that there are people who cannot or that live on a fixed income...and may struggle to.
Just like health insurance should be mandatory...healthy food should be affordable! Maybe that should become a legislative topic!!!

Yes it's true a bag of apples per say chosen over that bag of chips may be discretionary, but when your talking about frozen vs canned
or lean meats vs. fat or bread that is actually healthy ( which is even hard to find for someone who can afford it) there s still quite a bit of price differences.

I live in an area where today the temp will be -12. There are no farm markets this time of year so, I do rely on the supermarket or health food store.
I am lucky to know the owner of the health store & have referred many customers so it gets me a deal. If not, I am not sure we could afford all of these
supplements/dietary things I need. With 3 children & a 'middle-class" income, everyday is a balancing act in terms of budgets around here!
Posted 1/29/2010 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
     I am guilty of not reading labels.  I used to and it almost drove me nuts, it didn't seem to make a difference in my UC problem either.    Although I am convinced that all those preservatives in the foods are the big contributors to so many people developing cancer at young ages and all the autoimmune diseases we have today.  Years ago (I am 63) we never heard of autoimmune diseases, but I am sure they were around but not so abundant and certainly not in so many young people as there are today.

     Another thing to consider is all the crap we now have in our airwaves....ugh!

Posted 1/29/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
I read labels all the time. I used to be a fat kid and ended up dieting all through high school so it's compulsory for me.

mom of 3-My area is temperate, but we have year round fruit and veggie stands that we call farmers markets. I don't know if it's just a regional thing, though. I do a lot of shopping at these and save a lot of money on the fresh stuff. Also, try looking at different veggies than you normally would. There are lots of root veggies and leafy greens that are often overlooked-turnips, parsnips, and kale all come to mind. Parsnips are a personal favorite of mine-if you've never had them, they look like white carrots and have a delicate, nutty flavor when roasted.

kops2da-I'd love to take you up on that offer. I'm sure I could find lots of tasty, healthy things to eat. There are tons of ways to prepare fresh veggies that UCers can tolerate.

I find that eating healthy is actually cheaper, provided you're not looking at prepackaged stuff. One summer I shopped pretty much exclusively at the local farmer's market and paid maybe 25 every week or so for groceries. Granted, I was eating mostly vegetarian food, but still.
Posted 1/29/2010 10:39 PM (GMT 0)

Ok, I have to admit there are tons of way to fix fresh veggies for us UCers!  I can have them cooked - mushy is best and most of them although a few like cabbage, spouts and like that cause me diarrhea because I have IBS for years.

You caught me because my husband and I simply HATE veggies and only like or tolerate a very few fruits!  Just the way it is!

ElaineNY

Posted 1/30/2010 4:47 AM (GMT 0)

kops2da said...

I probably should have explained about not paying for medical.  My husband is a retired disabled veteran (got a Purple Heart in Vietnam) so his medical including everything is free at the Veterans hospital and we have a wonderful one here.  Because he is retired from Army I get supplement insurance from the Government to pay ANYTHING that Medicare does not pay.  I only pay $3 for prescriptions for one month supply so I do pay a little.  I also pay what they call Part B of Medicare which is about $100 a month - sorry I forgot about that as you never see it.  48 years we have not had to pay insurance because of his military service.  BUT - of course, he paid when working as he paid taxes.  We just feel very lucky and I never think about it until I come here and find people who can't afford their medications and treatments and I feel bad.  I can have anything Medicare approves but there is no cure for UC except surgery!  I am having a knee replacement this summer and it is completely paid for.

I would like to comment that both of us would rather pay and be healthy!!

ElaineNY

Purple Heart in Vietnam...Thank him for me. You and he deserve not to have to pay any medical.

Posted 1/30/2010 4:14 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks so much Burli.  I certainly agree as far as he is concerned.  He was exposed to Agent Orange and got diabetes and lung cancer from it (presumed by Government).  He was in Vietnam twice and a true patriot!

I would much rather have UC than all the problems he has and he is 74 and still can do quite a bit - through some pain at times.  The list includes (but I probably forgot some)

heart disease including triple bypass and now congestive heart failure, COPD, aortic aneursym repaired, burst appendix, lung cancer (now in remission), 2 hearing aids, glasses, arthritis, chronic low back pain, neuropathy from chemo/radiation, false teeth, and takes 18 pills a day including inhalers.  He rarely complains (never to others) and loves to read his Kindle and watch tv. He still drives and I inherited some money so bought him a Lincoln like he always wanted - he (and I LOL) deserve it.  He is exctremely lucky to have a great digestive system and can take most medications they throw at him.  The VA hospital here is wonderful and certainly have kept him alive for many extra years!

ElaineNY

Posted 1/30/2010 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, thank him for me too Elaine; both of you deserve to have the medical you do. My husband worked as a teenager and then Mental Health Counselor at the VA Hospital in PA...and from the stories he tells me, well, service people are just plain heroes and as you said Elaine -- true patriots. Sorry a little off topic, but I always want to say thanks to the soldiers!
Posted 1/31/2010 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Just finished watching Food, Inc. It was on pay per view thru ATT-Uverse, so you can probably get it anywhere. I do food safety checks for restaurant and hotel companies--trust me here, be very careful out there....and see this movie for some uncomfy truths about our food supply.
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