What kind of ‘food’ would you guess this long list creates:
Water, Mixed Wholegrain Flours (20%) (Sorghum Flour, Rice Flour, Corn Flour, Buckwheat Flour, Millet Flour, Teff Flour, Quinoa Flour, Amaranth Flour), Potato Flour, Corn Starch, Tapioca Starch, Sourdough (Fermented Quinoa, Corn and Rice Flour), Thickening Agent (Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum), Psyllium Husk, Pea Protein, Yeast,Salt, Inulin, Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid), Raising Agent (Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Acids (Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid), Preservative (Sorbic Acid)
Would you pick that product up off the shelve with the intention to eat it if that was the first thing you read?
By looking at the front of this pack of wraps you would think that you are making the right choice for your health with ‘low fat’, ’99 calories’ and ‘wheat & gluten free’.
Yes – there is a substantial amount of research now demonstrating the inflammatory effects of gluten on our body, so choosing gluten free is a step in the right direction. HOWEVER most of the time, pre-made gluten free products like this are more unhealthy than the original product. They are often packed with highly inflammatory vegetable oils like rapeseed oil, sugar, along with the typical preservatives, raising agents and thickeners found in processed products. If you are looking for a gluten free alternative, check out this home made recipe!
The front of packaging for food is marketing to get you to buy the product. Never trust it until you have read the ingredients list! One of the best habits you can get into when shopping is to read the ingredients list on everything with a package and over time you will learn which products contain chemicals and are packed full of sugar so you have more control over the contents that enter body and influence your health. It may even surprise you what some common processed foods contain.. Better yet – pick food that does not have a package and is in it’s whole natural state – ie an apple does not have a label because it is just an apple!
Cook from scratch and eat real, natural food and you can still enjoy your favourite meals without it damaging you health at the same time.
Dr Jamie
