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Are natural ingredients always safer than artificial ones?
Results so far:
| No | 42% | 101 votes | Total: 239 votes | |
| Yes | 58% | 138 votes |
No
by M. L. Kiser
Created on: October 23, 2010 Last Updated: October 25, 2010
I voted “no” on this, despite my love of natural foods and medicines because there are a few natural ingredients that some people should not use for various reasons. While “natural” may be better in the long run and no one is more of a natural advocate than I am; there are some cases in which people with allergies or sensitivities and various medical conditions should not use some natural ingredients.
Many herbs and spices, as well as, fruits and vegetables are natural allergens. If you are allergic to citrus, you are not going to get the health benefits from it; in fact, you may experience some serious allergic reactions that could even land you in the ER.
Foxglove, from which is synthesized, Digitalis, can kill you if you get too much while a tiny amount can save you from a heart attack. Skullcap is a toxic poison, too, but in minute doses it can provide a very restful sleep. Gluten is a problem for many people and those allergic will find that it’s in almost anything that they get in the way of processed foods and at restaurants. It can cause a host of ailments, causing serious misery for those who might have ingested the substance.
As a rule of thumb, anything natural or artificial, chemical or synthesized that you know you may be allergic or sensitive to, should be avoided. However, many people will undoubtedly end up having an allergic reaction to something that weren’t aware could cause an allergic reaction. If you do find that you are allergic or sensitive to any natural or artificial ingredient in foods or drinks; do not use it again.
Some ingredients in processed foods like artificial sweeteners, flavorings, or colorings can cause disease and illnesses such as Fibromyalgia, neurological problems, digestive difficulties or even something worse like Cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. The fact is that we human beings simply do not know the long-term effects of many man-made or synthesized chemicals and ingredients that are added to our food, drinks and medications.
While most culinary herbs can be eaten by nearly everyone without problems, some herbs like rosemary and sage can cause neurological problems like seizures. Others should not be taken or used by heart patients, pregnant and lactating women, children, babies or the elderly. Those with liver or kidney problems may end up with serious conditions with the use of some herbs and foods.
Herb and food combinations are problems for some people while others can eat, virtually anything. People who have diabetes, heart conditions and other health concerns should not eat high fat or sugary diets and anyone with lactose intolerance should avoid dairy. Many people can’t eat nuts of any type while others have no problems at all with them.
Fruit seeds, such as blackberry, strawberry and other berries can cause problems for anyone with ulcers or other digestive conditions. Some people are highly sensitive to sodium. It all varies with the individual.
Our toxic environment may be responsible for a lot of these problems and sensitivities. Chemicals in our food, water, air and medications can all have a serious effect on the way the body and mind work. Too much of one thing can cause problems while not enough of another can, too. Balance is important in our lives for so many reasons and what we ingest needs to be balanced.
Children born with rare conditions that prevent them from getting a nutritional balance may need ongoing medical care to help them simply, survive. An overabundance of chemicals in a pregnant woman’s body can be passed onto the fetus just as those from the father’s sperm can; creating an overabundance of some chemicals in the unborn child.
Some things in grocery or food stores that are labeled, “natural” may not be; the FDA has stringent rules regarding the labeling of foods and just because it says, “natural” on the label, does not mean that it doesn’t have chemicals added or that it’s safe.
Just because something is, “natural” does not mean that it is perfectly safe. It’s important for us all to know what our bodies tolerate and what they don’t. Your doctor can do blood and chemical workups to see what nutrients you are lacking or have too much of in your body. Vitamins and other nutrients can be toxic in overabundance, so even natural vitamin supplements can be hazardous if you are already getting what you need in your daily food intake.
If you are one of the many who can eat just about anything without problems; you are fortunate, but if you develop a health or medical condition, know what will interact with your medications or what may irritate that condition. Knowledge is indeed, power, so take charge of your health and get information and education about anything and everything that you eat, drink or take as medicine.
Learn more about this author, M. L. Kiser.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Yes
by Ronnie Dauber
Created on: April 16, 2012 Last Updated: April 18, 2012
Natural ingredients are without a doubt always safer than artificial ingredients. It has nothing to do with culture, religion or preference; it has to do with the chemistry of our bodies and how they are not able to adapt to chemicals.
The difference between natural and artificial foods is that natural foods can be easily digested and the nutrients easily dispersed within our bodies, whereas artificial ingredients are comprised of chemicals and non-digestible ingredients that provide little to no nutritional benefits and that destroy the natural DNA reproduction in the body.
There is a newly released documentary movie called, Hungry for Change, that hosts a number of health professionals who clearly explain the advantages of natural food and the deadly disadvantages of artificial foods.
Natural foods include foods that are grown from the earth such as fruits and berries, herbs and spices, nuts and nutmeats, and vegetables including leaf, root and their natural products. And ideally, organic natural foods are best because they are void of contaminants such as pesticides, insecticides and artificial fertilizers. Meat and dairy are also natural foods provided they are organic, as well, and are free of all the same contaminants.
Artificial foods include all packaged, processed, canned and fast foods. The danger in these foods is that they have chemical ingredients mixed in during preparation that add to the shelf longevity, taste, color and texture. We don't taste the chemicals, only the food and so most people have no concern for what the chemicals do to the body.
The body, however, cannot digest the chemicals so it immediately goes into protection mode every single time we swallow artificial food. It stores the food into fat cells to protect the organs because the body knows that these chemicals will kill it. And the more chemicals we ingest, the weaker our immune system becomes because it wears down from this feat alone. Our other organs such as the liver, the kidney and the thyroid become gravely endangered as they try to eliminate what they can, but sadly, most of the toxins can't pass and so they stay in these vital organs and become breeding grounds for disease.
Our DNA is created through the immune system on a daily basis as it renews old cells with new ones, but when the immune system is weak and there is a greater intake of chemicals than foods that feed it, the DNA reproductions become less than perfect each time. Eventually, our system is overburdened with malnutrition and each new reproduction of DNA becomes slightly more deformed, and this makes us more susceptible to disease and generally poor health. Three of the most deadly diseases we are facing today are cancer, diabetes and obesity - and all of these are a direct result of a body that isn't being fed real food.
What has made artificial food such a popular menu is that we live in a fast-paced world that offers convenient substitutes and make us feel good and competent about ourselves. We love to eat out and we also feel good cooking at home when using prepared foods and packaged goods that give us the satisfaction of thinking we made it ourselves. After all, the labels list the nutrients and we believe them. But there's also a list of ingredients that we can't pronounce and have no clue what they are, and they are the chemicals that make the food taste great - aka body destruction.
Meats and dairy products in general are very deadly for the body because of the chemicals, pesticides and insecticides that are put in the foods the animals eat to make them hungry and want to eat more - and since we eat the meat we also have the need to eat more. But there are also chemicals added to make the animals mature faster and be able to reproduce quicker and more frequently, and when we eat them we inherit the same chemistry. Children are developing physically at a much younger age and are fighting the sexual urges sooner than they are able to mentally and emotionally deal with.
And then there's the issue of food not really being food at all. What is white sugar? It used to come from the sugar cane but now it's a man made crystal with artificial flavor. Corn syrup is not syrup at all but rather, it's a man made product that's refined from the corn plant. Store bought flour is deadly for us because if we ground the grains ourselves with a mill, it would only last a couple of days before becoming rancid and being infested with bugs. Yet, it has a store shelf life of months and that's because the flour is blended with insecticides and pesticides to keep it free of bugs and to prevent it from going bad.
To get a clear understanding of the difference between natural and artificial foods and the effects they each have on our bodies, please visit the site Hungry for Change and watch the movie because it presents the issues very clearly. And this author can testify to the fact that making the change from artificial to natural foods can save your life - because it saved mine.
Learn more about this author, Ronnie Dauber.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
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