When you start eating clean, it is tempting to eat kosher and forget about eating healthy. After all, Coca-Cola, M&M’s, and other unhealthy foods have Kosher Symbols on them. So, doesn’t that make them clean and healthy to eat?

Even though we all like those things sometimes, being Kosher, still doesn’t make them healthy. Sorry.

Many Kosher foods contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, white sugar, hydrogenated oils, and other ingredients that are harmful to our bodies.

What makes them Kosher is that they do not contain the ingredients or the combinations of foods that the Rabbi’s consider not Kosher.

Yehoshua taught us that, if we love Him, we will obey what He commands. John 14:15

John tells us, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6

You can find Yehovah’s clean eating instructions in Leviticus Chapter 11

We choose to follow what our Messiah did and eat clean, and to stay away from foods that although they might be “Kosher”, aren’t good for our bodies. While at the same time, eating things like lasagna that have milk and meat together because although that is not “Kosher”, it is clean. Abraham, the Father of our faith, led by example and when he was visited by Yehovah, fed Him milk and meat together. If it’s good enough for the Father, it is good for us! (Genesis 18)

We want to follow Yehovah, not men’s laws.

Below you will find a list of ingredients that can be dangerous to your health, even though you may find them on a product label that is Kosher.

Sodium Nitrate/Nitrite,

Preservatives used to prevent bacterial growth and maintain the pinkish color of meats and fish. They are in cured, canned, and packaged meats. Sodium nitrite and nitrate react with amino acids to form cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.

For an article and research on these harmful substances, click here: Sodium Nitrate Dangers You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Hydrogenated Oils, These are oils made by forcing hydrogen gas into vegetable fats under extremely high pressure, it creates trans fatty acids. Food processors like this fat because of its low cost and long shelf life. It is found in margarine, pastries, frozen foods, peanut butter, cakes, cookies, crackers, canned soups, fast food items, and flavored coffee creamers. These man made fats are a leading cause of clogged arteries.

BHA/BHT, Butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole are petroleum-derived antioxidants used to preserve fats and oils.

To read an article on the effect of these chemicals, click here.

Artificial Colors, (Like, Yellow #5 & #6, Blue #1 & #2) These dyes have been linked to cancer, tumors, allergies, and hyperactivity.

See study on this related to hyperactivity here.

See Study on this linked to cancer here.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG, Accent)

This is commonly found in foods as a ‘flavor enhancer’.

Studies have shown that MSG increases the likelihood of weight gain, high blood pressure, asthma attacks, metabolic syndrome. Symptoms of sensitivity include; headache, flushing, tingling, weakness, and stomach ache.

MSG is the ingredient found in the ‘spice’ Accent. It’s commonly found in potato chips, fast food, ice tea mixes, packaged seasonings, sports drinks, canned soups and broth, bouillon cubes, and salad dressings.

It is best to avoid processed packaged foods and eat a whole foods diet instead. This alone will help you avoid many of these dangerous food additives.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), is derived from corn starch. Starch itself is a chain of glucose (a simple sugar) molecules joined together. When corn starch is broken down into individual glucose molecules, the end product is corn syrup, which is essentially 100% glucose.To make HFCS, enzymes are added to corn syrup in order to convert some of the glucose to another simple sugar called fructose.

This food additive is very dangerous and is a leading cause of Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity. Heptobiliary Surgery and Nutrition has a study on the NCIB website titled ” Carbohydrate intake and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: fructose as a weapon of mass destruction” explaining the dangers of HFCS.

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, also referred to as Acesulfame potassium (K), AminoSweet®, Neotame®, Equal®, NutraSweet®, Blue Zero Calorie Sweetener Packets™, Advantame®, NutraSweet New Pink, Canderel®, Pal Sweet Diet® and AminoSweet®.

It’s used in a variety of food and wellness products like diet soda, gum, ice cream, jello, packaged yogurt, candy and vitamins. Anythings that says “Sugar Free”, “Zero Sugar”, “Light/Lite” or “Diet” usually contains Aspartame or another artificial sweetener.

Note in the picture above the aspartame in the ingredient list with an asterisk talking about this frozen yogurt containing phenylalanine. According to Mayo Clinic this can cause intellectual disabilities, brain damage, seizures and other problems.

Aspartame’s other potential dangers include cancer, induced or worsened diabetes, increased heart disease risk, nervous system and brain disorders and much more.

Here is a link to an in depth article on Aspartame, complete with numerous studies and information.

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s)

According to the Non-GMO Project “Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

Most GMOs have been engineered to withstand the direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. However, new technologies are now being used to artificially develop other traits in plants, such as a resistance to browning in apples, and to create new organisms using synthetic biology. Despite biotech industry promises, there is no evidence that any of the GMOs currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

More than 80% of all genetically modified crops grown worldwide have been engineered for herbicide tolerance.⁷ As a result, the use of toxic herbicides, such as Roundup®, has increased fifteenfold since GMOs were first introduced.⁸ In March 2015, the World Health Organization determined that the herbicide glyphosate (the key ingredient in Roundup®) is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Genetically modified crops also are responsible for the emergence of “superweeds” and “superbugs,” which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons such as 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).^9,10

Most GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture and are developed and sold by the world’s largest chemical companies. The longterm impacts of these GMOs are unknown. Once released into the environment, these novel organisms cannot be recalled.”

Potassium Bromate, is used mainly is dough processing in breads and other processed foods like crackers, egg rolls, pizza crusts, and cookies.

In 1999 the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that potassium bromate is a possible human carcinogen.

You can learn more on the EWG’s website. They have information about toxic chemicals in our food, as well as in farming, personal care products, and household products like laundry soap. They offer a grading system, and make the Clean 15/Dirty Dozen Shopper’s Guide that helps you know what has the least and most pesticides residue on fruits and veggies.

As always, we encourage you to do your own research.