By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
"Good for Cancer" Are You Kidding Me? We Should All Know the True Facts
About This Dodgy and Dangerous Food Additive!
As the Adage says "Don't believe Everything You Hear" we should Heed that Caution Well, when it comes to reading about Emulsifiers especially. The Food Industry's biggest Ploys for making our Groceries Toxic is they used "Something Natural"...... but just like Big Pharma, it's what they do with that which makes it Toxic. Then they argue that they've "Only just used a little" as if it's not worth worrying about.
But Often, Our Body Tells A Different Story.
Some Area of Our Health plays up with Uncomfortable or Distressing Symptoms. And also, there is the Accumulation Factor that very few people are Not aware of whereby often a certain Offending Substance keeps Building Up in Our System, and sometime later a Serious Health Disorder threatens our somewhat peaceful Life or Adds to our Stress Load - Uninvited. Such has been the case for many people who have had regular Exposure to this so-called "Safe Emulsifier" another Hidden Culprit in the Food Chain.
As usual, I am endeavouring to get word out there and Protect my Readers and Visitors from the likes of Dangerous Additives those Corrupt Manufacturers Insist on using in Our Groceries. Please also spread the word about what you read here. OK?
Sufficient reason to Avoid So-Called Remedy in Dodgy Emulsifier - Another One of Pharma's Creations in the Food Giant Industry - Disruptive and Deceptive as Usual. Best to Opt for Real Foods and Dodge All Those Dodgy Emulsifiers that are Found ìn Most Processed Food Products, not just Ultra Processed Foods. Hey?
From recent Research, there's a Strong Argument for that. And you can be Sure, that where Controversies Exist - that's because the Pharma/Food Industry is Fighting back against Truth Found Out. Every time they Claim there is Insufficient Evidence (further Tests are needed for something more concrete) you Can be Sure that's just a Shrewd Attempt to Downplay True Facts, so you keep buying Products containing them.
In other Words, they are just telling you to Wait for "More Evidence" they have absolutely No Intention of finding as Usual because it Weighs Against them. They are a Sickness Industry - you can be Sure of that - and they always Play for Time because they are Totally without Honor.
That's the Nature of their Crime for Decades. They say that Every time because it Convinces You there is No Urgency to Avoid those Products you are buying. Do you read me? It's nothing but a big psychological Ploy - they've been Scamming us this way for Decades. This and other ways!
And wait a minute, supposing their argument seems convincing to you, I will say this:
even if their Words were Honest (which they never are) is it not Better to Err on the Side of Caution if you believe their Strategy? Because People are Getting Desperately ILL in the Meantime while we're waiting for "Further Tests" that surprisingly Never Eventuate. Yes, it's Very Corrupt, so don't be so Quick to Trust what what you hear and read.
Carrageenan: The Secret Food Additive
Where is it Commonly Found?
The most common use of carrageenan is as a food additive in processed meats, soy milk, infant formula and dairy or dairy-like desserts such as ice cream, milkshakes, syrup or yoghurt. In some products it is used as a vegan or vegetarian alternative to gelatin. Nowadays, most industrial carrageenan is no longer from Irish moss, but extracted from the North American seaweeds Eucheuma cottonii, Eucheuma denticulatum, Eucheuma spinosum and Gigartina skottsbergii.
Inflammatory Properties
Carrageenan came to the attention of the health and nutrition community in the late 1990s and early 2000s when numerous previous studies were unearthed that exposed its carcinogenic effects. Subsequently, Dr Joanne K. Tobacman, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois, published a comprehensive review of 45 publicly funded studies concluding that “the potential role of carrageenan in the development of gastrointestinal malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease requires careful reconsideration of the advisability of its continued use as a food additive.
Subsequent Developments
On the political side, Tobacman filed a petition to the US FDA, requesting that carrageenan be prohibited as a food additive, pointing to numerous studies that showed it “induces inflammation and intestinal neoplasia”. The FDA denied her request. The Cornucopia Institute, a non-profit food safety advocacy body, supported Tobacman’s petition and has since asked the FDA on multiple occasions to re-evaluate their decision. They have also made a regularly updated consumer guide that lists US food products that do not contain carrageenan. From Natural Health Mag Au HERE
Carrageenan in the Diet: Friend or Foe?
While the exact pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear, genetic, environmental and nutritional factors as well as the composition of the Gut Microbiome play crucial roles. Food Additives, which are Increasingly Consumed in the Western diet, are being Investigated for their Effects on IBD.
These additives can affect Gut Health by Altering the Composition of the Microbiota, Immune Responses, and Intestinal Permeability, contributing to Autoimmune Diseases and Inflammation.
Despite the growing number of Studies on Food Additives and IBD, they say the specific effects of Carrageenan have not yet been sufficiently Researched. This review addresses this gap by critically analysing Recent Studies on the Effects of Carrageenan on the Gut Microbiota, Intestinal Permeability, and Inflammatory Processes.
We searched the MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases using the following terms: carrageenan, carrageenan and inflammatory bowel disease, carrageenan and cancer, food additives and microbiome, food additives and intestinal permeability, and food additives and Autoimmune Diseases.
In animal Studies, degraded Carrageenan has been shown to Trigger Intestinal Ulceration and Inflammation, highlighting its potential Risk for exacerbating IBD. It can affect the Gut Microbiota, Reduce Bacterial Diversity, and Increase Intestinal Permeability, contributing to “Leaky Gut” Syndrome.
From MDPI HERE
Friends, that’s Serious! 1) because Our Health Status depends on the Integrity of Our Gut 2) because Leaky Gut is found to be the Mystery Cause of some Very Stressful Physical Disorders like Baffling Food Intolerances with very Distressing Symptoms Etc in no uncertain terms.
Why I'm Avoiding Carrageenan: A Cardiologist Explains
Although I was aware of health concerns regarding this food additive, I needed to read up on the topic before I responded to her concerns. In the course of my research, here are the important facts I learned:
1. Carrageenan, which is extracted from red seaweed, is often used to thicken nonfat or low-fat foods and dairy replacements. It can also stabilize beverages that may otherwise separate, like chocolate milk. It's even added to meats like deli meats and chicken as a binder, and can be found in processed foods like frozen pizzas and food bars.
2. This "natural" food ingredient can be transformed into what's called poligeenan, or "degraded" carrageenan. This is a potent inflammatory agent - in fact, it's been used in experiments to create inflammation to test new therapies. And the International Agency for Research on Cancer lists degraded carrageenan as a possible carcinogen.
3. Degraded Carrageenan can be found in food products, and is supposed to be kept at less than 5% of the total. But it's been reported that up to 25% of carrageenan in foods may be degraded - although the industry producing it has taken exception with this.
4. Scientific Studies have raised concerns about the additive for years. A 2001 report reviewed the literature on the harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animals and found higher rates of lesions, ulcerations and malignant tumors.
5. In human intestinal cells, lab studies have shown how carrageenan induces inflammation.
6. In animal studies, carrageenan was found to lead to elevated blood sugars and lipid levels, even with no weight gain.
7. Still, they say there are insufficient case studies of humans to conclude whether Carrageenan is causing Clinical Diseases.
Why I'm Avoiding
So what did I tell my patient? I told her that the Issue of the safety of Carrageenan has not been resolved, but that there's reason to be concerned!
In fact, one of the leading Researchers in the field, Dr. Joanne Tobacman, has concluded that "Carrageenan exposure clearly causes Inflammation; the amount of carrageenan in food products is sufficient to cause Inflammation; and degraded Carrageenan and food-grade Carrageenan are both Harmful."
In my opinion, the majority of frozen pizzas, ice cream, and prepared chicken aren't healthy choices and should be avoided anyway, whether they contain Carrageenan or not.
But what about almond milk? For my family, I have decided to purchase products that are Free of Carrageenan in order to Avoid even a remote chance that they're Pro-Inflammatory and Raise Blood Sugar.
If you'd like to learn more, The Cornucopia Institute, an organization dedicated to Researching Food Issues, has an extensive review of the Scientific Studies on the Safety of Carrageenan and a List of Products that contain it as an Additive. Source HERE
The Effects of Carrageenan (E 407) on Diabetes and Intestinal Inflammation
A German study
A team of German Researchers specialized in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases (Wagner et al., 2024) studied the Health Effects of the consumption of Carrageenan (E 407), a widely used additive in Industrial Foods.
1) The Study
The research was carried out at the Metabolic Research Center of the University Hospital of Tübingen, Germany, on 20 healthy men, average age 27,4 years, non-obese (BMI, body mass index 24,5 on average).
Volunteers were treated with oral intake of carrageenan (250 mg) or placebo, morning and evening, in two sessions of two weeks each with a rest interval of 21-35 days.
2) Carrageenan (E 407), A Very Common Additive
The additive covered by the study is carrageenan (E 407) an undesirable but very common emulsifier in ultra-processed foods: chocolates and snacks, but also milk snacks so loved by children, ice creams, fresh pasta, spreadable cheeses, as found in our market research. (2)
‘The average daily intake of carrageenan has increased from 45 mg in the 1970s to over 250 mg at the beginning of the twenty-first century in some countries’, report the authors of the study in question.
3) Harmful Effects Already Within The ADI
The acceptable daily dose (ADI) is set by EFSA (opinion 2018) at 75 mg per kg of body weight. (3) That is up to 5.250 mg for a 70 kg person or 750 mg per day for a 10 kg child.
The ADI expresses the maximum dose of exposure to the substance throughout life without any safety risk. However, the amount administered in the Research in question (500 mg/day) – well below the ADI – Shows Harmful Effects on Health.
4) The Results
Consumption of 500 mg of Carrageenan showed effects on Insulin Sensitivity on a part of the participants and Increased Intestinal Permeability.
‘In overweight participants, Carrageenan exposure resulted in Lower Hepatic and total body Insulin sensitivity, a trend toward Increased Brain Inflammation, and Elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels compared to placebo’, the Researchers note.
4.1) Increased Intestinal Permeability
Carrageenan exposure also caused Increased Intestinal Permeability.
‘Interestingly, this effect of Carrageenan in Inducing Intestinal Inflammation was not associated with any clinically relevant symptoms, indicating that these negative effects of increased exposure to Carrageenan can go unnoticed for a considerable period of time’, underline the authors of the Study.
5) Well-Known Harmful Effects
Scientific Research has been repeatedly shown that this additive Can Induce Insulin Resistance and Intestinal Inflammation in animal models and IS Suspected of causing adverse effects on human health.
‘Epidemiologically, an increase in Carrageenan consumption has been associated with the Incidence of Breast Cancer (+32%, ed.). (4)
An association between increased Carrageenan consumption and a Higher Incidence of Diabetes was found in a recent European population-based Study. From Food Times HERE
Some Words from Janet that are Integral to Our Health and Wellbeing
An Important matter to report to you here before we go any further is, see how "Increased Intestinal Permeability" is mentioned above? That's No Small Thing, that's Huge, in the world of Modern Day Health Disorders. For starters, many Baffling and Distressing Acute Allergies and Food Intolerances like those to do the Histamine and Salicylates have their origin in Intestinal Permeability. That's when the Lining of your Gut loses it's Integrity to keep Invaders out - it has to do with the "Leaky Gut Syndrome" you may have heard about. A distressing and Undiagnosed Disorder often.
Increased Intestinal Permeability and Leaky Gut Syndrome are the same thing. Presenting Chronic Symptoms including Persistent Bloating, Digestive Issues (diarrhea/constipation), Food Sensitivities, Fatigue, Skin Rashes (Eczema/Acne), Joint Pain, and Brain Fog. Phew!
It occurs when the Intestinal Lining becomes Damaged, allowing Toxins and undigested food to enter the Bloodstream, triggering Widespread Inflammation.
In fact, Our Gut is an Integral part of our Immune System., with a Vital Role to Play. Until recent years, Western Medicine our Health Care is based on, was Very Ignorant about the Importance of Our Gut; the necessity to Care for it Well; and certain Health Issues pertaining to it. Until the Natural Health Profession discovered the Existence and Concept of the Microbiome from Health Professionals in Europe who were Happy to Inform and Educate us about this Central Area of Our Health.
I've seen several YouTube Videos with Demonstrations of how to make our own Homemade Yogurt, Kefir and Kombucha (not the adulterated store bought type with so-called safe Erythritol which poses a danger to our health) and the recently popular spicy Kimchi. People were fascinated and enthralled about this Phenomenon, as was I. This has been the epitome of Health Care in personal daily practice in Homes in European Culture for generations, and along with their practice of Growing their Produce without Chemicals is the fundamental reason for their Excellent Health and Youthful Skin. Did you know it is a Fact that the State of Our Health shows up in our Eyes and Skin - they mirror how well we look after Our Health and when we need to address it. For instance, Neglect of Adequate Nutrition, Nourishing Sleep and lack of Stress Management often show up in Dry, devitalised Skin.
In recent times, you may have heard of Our Gut referred to as Our "Second Brain"......... meaning that Our Gut and Our Brain are NOT "Separate Departments" like Western Medicine has been practicing since it's founding. That Health Model is based on absolute Ignorance. However, they have been learning in recent times, some Importance the Gut has in relation to Health, and their Gastroenterologists have been kept busy with procedures of Endoscopes and Colonoscopies since a Flood of Ultra-Processed Foods have increasingly been on the Rise in the Marketplace AND Emulsifiers like Carrageenan have been dominant in an astonishing amount of Food Products.
Over time, that varies with the individual, Our Digestive System grapples with it's presence in Our Diet and the amount of it we are Exposed to on a regular basis. Yes that's true, and I urge you to Avoid placing these Groceries in your shopping basket/trolly as much as you possibly can Friends because as you have been reading, they Mess with Our Digestive System and Compromise with Our Health.
Having had two Endoscopy procedures once, due to Choking Fits sometimes and difficulty Swallowing Proteins unless I had very small bites (due to a narrowing of the Esophagus which was unbelievable and distressing in certain instances........the Medicos were interested in one thing pretty much, as we have learnt to expect from them. That is 1) to investigate 2) to patch you up 3) send you home with a Prescription (for Antacids basically) called Somac, to be taken 2x daily for two months (and come back for another Endoscopy if the situation comes up again) with absolutely No questions asked about my Diet (types of foods I eat?) and what may have caused it. For instance, it can be from Sleep Deprecation, Lack of Exercise, Sedentary Living, Poor Stress Management. These came up in research I did later regarding the Issue. And mind you, the Somac or similar MED they give you is known to Medicos and Pharmacists as a Proton Pump Inhibitor - there are Concerning Reports about, if they keep you on them. Like I said, there was no Counselling concerning Diet or contributing Factors - just a Quick Fix and "You can go home" permission. And that Friends, is typical of the Western Model of Medicine, sorry to say.
A "Quick Fix and a Script" next Patient please?
MAY I SIDETRACK FOR A FEW MINUTES?
A Question To Ask You
Instead of relying on this SLAP DASH and COME BACK Medical Model most of us are accustomed to, how about taking some responsibility for Our Own Health and Researching things more often - Natural Health Wise - instead of consigning things over to an (in reality) Ignorant Medical Profession that's trained in Two Things basically 1) Prescribe Scripts for Medical Drugs - good for profiteering - 2) Expensive Medical Procedures - also good for profiteering. It's Founder John A Rockefeller, intended it to be a Sickness Industry (not a health profession) when he Set Up his Wicked Multi-Faceted Empire. Hear the Audio HERE about that if you have any doubts about the Huge Massive amounts of Profit it still rakes up to this Day........and how the Food Industry Chemicals that Effect Our Health so badly "Ties in with that" many things will slot into place for you when you do. It all starts to make Sense. Many people ask me "Why is the Food Industry so determined to Make Us Sick? Are they tied up with Big Pharma?" The answer is YES.
Some Things To Consider
Would you not be better off going with the NATURAL HEALTH MODEL of things, that is to 1) See what Offending Foods and/or Chemicals and Lifestyle Habits are most likely causing your Health Issues and adopt a Healthy Diet 2) Make sure you are getting Adequate Sleep - for restorative maintenance Body Processes to take place at night 3) How much Exercise are you getting on a daily basis? Are you Moving around much or do you Sit and/or Lay Down for Hours at a time (Sedentary Living) and rely on Modern Conveniences a Lot, not much time for Fresh Air? Go for Walks each day (10-15 Minutes at-least) and a few longer Walks each Week (30-40 Minutes at-least) have some Exposure to Sunshine everyday. The Medical Profession has spread LIES about that and has a strong influence over Governments. Wise Exposure is Indispensable to Our Health and the Missing Health Factor in many Lives and Families. We spend way too much time Indoors and Sunshine is Not our enemy. Of-Course it's in the Medical Industry's interest for you to think it is! Hey?
And if by any chance, you need Help and Guidance from a Practitioner, a Naturopath or Herbalist will Serve You far better with a Proper Consultation than one of those 5 Minute Visits to a MD/GPs Office will - "Next Please!" Truth be told, the System is Streamlined for Super-Profits these days, and Pressure is placed on them to Push a whole Lot More Meds by Greedy Big Pharma, and those MD/GPs are Highly Incentivised, which should never happen but it does! They see you for a few quick minutes, ask you what Scripts you want, pelt it out of a printer, hand it to you and see you out the door.
Excuse me for saying this "That's a Consultation!?" I will leave it to your judgement to decide. Many people close by to me are Positively Livid about that and often mention this in Shopping Centres when conversing with fellow-shoppers after an appointment.
MOVING ON
Harmful or Harmless: Carrageenan
by Chris Kresser, M.S.
Functional Food Medicine Practitioner and Educator
Carrageenan, a heavily discussed Additive in the world of Alternative Health, is an indigestible polysaccharide that is extracted from red algae, and is most commonly used in Food as a Thickener or Stabilizer. Carrageenan-containing seaweeds have been used for centuries in food preparations for their gelling properties, but the Refined, Isolated Carrageenan found in Modern Processed Foods has raised concerns in the Health-Conscious Online Community.
Despite Controversies out there, I do still think Caution is Warranted.
If I had to rank additives, I’d say Carrageenan is more concerning than the other two additives we’ve discussed so far because of its association with Gut Issues. Remember, in cases involving Modern Ingredients, the burden of Proof should be on Manufacturers to Prove they’re Safe (not just claim it) rather than on Consumers to Prove they’re Harmful.
Because the "Evidence" doesn't seem Conclusive either way, I recommend Avoiding Carrageenan, especially if you have a history of Digestive Problems.
Personally, I adhere to the “Precautionary Principle” for anything I eat; in other words, in the Absence of Proven Safety, I choose to Avoid Foods that have Questionable Adverse Effects. Carrageenan fits this description, as there’s still some doubt about its Safety and No Evidence has convinced me that there isn’t a potential for Harm if consumed regularly.
In Australia, foods containing Carrageenan will contain one of the following labels: ‘Vegetable Gum (407)’, ‘Carrageenan Gum’, or ‘Vegetable Gum (Carrageenan)’. In the United States, food containing Carrageenan will say ‘Carrageenan’ on the label and in Europe it will say ‘E407’ or ‘E407a’. For those wanting to Avoid Carrageenan in foods they eat, check out Cornucopia’s guide to avoiding Organic Foods with Carrageenan.
So watch for Vegetable Gum or 407 on their own because it's getting tricky.
There are a few other Emulsifiers I will be covering also for Your Protection Soon.
So much for Modern Day Foods!
I often say:
The least complicated way to keep the Nasties Away
is to change over to OR stay with REAL FOODS
like our Great Grandparents had, hey?
(That way, you have far less Items to Check)