Chemical Stress Part 4

One of the most important decisions we make at mealtime is what to eat. Certain types of food create stress. The most stressful foods commonly found in our western diet are: Dairy products, glutens, refined sugar & artificial sweeteners, corn & soy based products, caffeine and trans fats. Eating any of these types of foods will lead to a stress response within the body.

Let's start with milk & dairy. I believe that everyone is lactose intolerant to some extent; it is just more obvious for some. A lot of you may be thinking: Don’t we need milk to build strong bones and teeth? The dairy industry has done an amazing job of advertising to us that milk is good for us. However, the fact of the matter is, dairy products are very tough on our digestion system and causes such a dramatic stress response throughout our entire system that it actually raises the risk of osteoporosis. If the advertising campaigns were true, why is it that in countries around the world that do not drink milk, osteoporosis virtually does not exist while it is increasing in the milk consuming countries?

Why hasn’t the government stepped in to protect our best interest as it pertains to milk & dairy? One logical explanation occurs if you follow the flow of money. The dairy commission has a very strong and influential lobby in Washington D.C. In fact, they are the creators of the 4 basic food group program that many of us had to learn in school and had a significant role in the construction of the current federally endorsed food pyramid. It will take a lot of time & education to reverse the status quo as it pertains to our nutritional health.

Glutens are proteins that create high levels of stress on us. They are commonly found in wheat, rye and barley products like bread & pasta. Due to its ability to act as a stabilizer, glutens are also used as a food additive and can be found in a wide variety of products.

It should come as no surprise that excess amounts of sugar is stressful. However, many people do not realize that many artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, etc.) are also quite harsh on us. Studies have linked artificial sweeteners with a wide variety of physical problems & diseases. In addition, it has been shown that consistent use of these sugar substitutes will actually increase body fat production.

Food scientists have found that the components of corn & soy can be used to produce a wide variety of food products. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one example of this process. The increasing use of HFCS in a wide assortment of foods is due to its relative low cost when compared to natural sugar. Corn & soy is also transformed into a large number of food additives like flour, starch, protein, dextrose and oils, all of which create stress.

Have you ever had a caffeine headache? Caffeine is a chemical stimulant that can be highly addictive. Drinking coffee and other beverages that contain high levels of caffeine will cause stress on our overall systems and can decrease health levels.