For health reasons I am currently following the anti Candida diet, which is basically a clean eating diet. One part of this diet is avoiding all processed sugar. Especially refined sugar or artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (which should be avoided anyway). For this reason I have to be really careful about checking the label of anything I buy that isn’t fresh vegetables and meat, for any additives. What i’ve noticed? Food companies add some seriously scary things into their food. The worrying thing is that a lot of these products are things you wouldn’t even think to check the label for. For example, frozen berries, which I love to eat in the morning with my Greek yoghurt. You would think these are just berries right? Wrong! Many companies add the devil itself, high fructose corn syrup or fructose. The thing I don’t even understand is that berries are naturally sweet! It’s insane to add an artificial sweetener to a frozen product which is sweet already!!!!

There was a random test on bread brought in the supermarket. Out of 15 loaves on the shelf 13 had added sugar or sugar derivatives such as fructose. If you don’t yet know the evils of this stuff watch this brilliant lecture by eminent endocrinologist Dr Lustig. It’s very informative and interesting http://authoritynutrition.com/why-is-fructose-bad-for-you/

I was recently in a supermarket in England and all I wanted was some lean protein on the run, so I checked the meat section. You know out of about 30 different offerings how many didn’t have added E numbers or sugar? One. Yes that’s one packet of ham in the whole section. Picking lean protein such as meat I wouldn’t even normally think to check the packet, and that sort of insidiousness is what makes it so scary.

Food companies are adding these harmful chemicals into all our foods which are stocked in the supermarkets and then brought by us(no irony there whatsoever). What I have definitely noticed is that the cheaper supermarkets like Netto are particularly at fault in stocking foods made my companies who add this stuff in. I believe they do it to increase product longevity, and also because it’s so cheap to use. However, it is common knowledge, which has been verified by science, that these additives are lethal and yet they are still approved by the FDA, and still added to our foods. I can’t understand why the Government is just letting these products go out there and is not taking action — especially in England where obesity is such a health concern. It’s like these companies want us to be sick.

My advice? Be vigilant. If something comes in a packet — even frozen fruit or vegetables check the label. You will be amazed at what you find!