Hidden Corn a.k.a. Evil Corn

If you must eat corn, and I am from the south so you KNOW I loves me some corn on the cobs. But if you must eat it, buy it organic and whole, or grow it yourself. 

Making your own cornmeal/cornflour and other useful corn products is both easy and rewarding. Plus you leave behind the risks of Bt toxin or overconsumption of corn products, which can lead to gluten sensitivity or allergies and other health problems. 

Hidden Corn Based Ingredients

From Gluten Free Society

Selected Studies on the detrimental effects of corn gluten:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

Study 4

To Better help those trying to adhere to a TRUE gluten free diet, we have comprised a list of foods and products that contain corn.

**Although this is a comprehensive list, it should be noted that it is not representative of all hidden sources of corn.  Corn and corn by products are used ubiquitously in thousands of foods and commercial applications.

Ingredients that definitely contain corn:

Corn alcohol

Corn chips

Corn gluten

Corn extract

Corn flakes

Corn flour

Corn fritters

Corn oil – corn oil margarine

Corn meal

Corn puffs cereal

Corn starch

Corn sweetener

Corn sugar  (dextrose, Dyno, Cerelose, Puretose, Sweetose, glucose are all possibilities)

Corn syrup

Corn syrup solids

Corn

Popcorn

Corn meal

Cornstarch

Corn flour

Corn tortillas

Grits

High fructose corn syrup

Hominy

Hydrolyzed corn

Hydrolyzed corn protein

Maize

Modified corn starch

Polenta

Tamales (coating)

Taco shells

Vegetable oil

Zea mays

Zein

Ingredients that may contain corn. Not all of these terms are definitively derived from corn, but they can be.  Use with caution:

Acetic acid

Alcohol

Alpha tocopherol

Artificial flavorings

Artificial sweeteners

Ascorbates

Ascorbic acid

Aspartame (Artificial sweetener)

Astaxanthin

Baking powder

Barley malt

Bleached flour

Blended sugar

Brown sugar (typically the caramel color)

Calcium citrate

Calcium fumarate

Calcium gluconate

Calcium lactate

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)

Calcium stearate

Calcium stearoyl lactylate

Caramel and caramel color

Carbonmethylcellulose sodium

Cellulose microcrystalline

Cellulose, methyl

Cellulose, powdered

Cetearyl glucoside

Choline chloride

Citric acid

Citrus cloud emulsion (CCS)

Coco glycerides (cocoglycerides)

Confectioners sugar

Crosscarmellose sodium

Crystalline dextrose

Crystalline fructose

Cyclodextrin

DATUM (a dough conditioner)

Decyl glucoside

Decyl polyglucose

Dextrin

Dextrose (also found in IV solutions)

Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous)

d-Gluconic acid

Distilled white vinegar

Drying agent

Erythorbic acid

Erythritol

Ethanol

Ethocel 20

Ethylcellulose

Ethylene

Ethyl acetate

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl lactate

Ethyl maltol

Fibersol-2

Flavorings

Food starch

Fructose

Fruit juice concentrate

Fumaric acid

Germ/germ meal

Gluconate

Gluconic acid

Glucono delta-lactone

Gluconolactone

Glucosamine

Glucose

Glucose syrup (also found in IV solutions)

Glutamate

Gluten

Gluten feed/meal

Glycerides

Glycerin

Glycerol

Golden syrup

Honey

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP)

Inositol

Invert syrup or sugar

Iodized salt

Lactate

Lactic acid

Lauryl glucoside

Lecithin

Linoleic acid

Lysine

Magnesium fumarate

Maize

Malic acid

Malonic acid

Malt syrup from corn

Malt, malt extract

Maltitol

Maltodextrin

Maltol

Maltose

Mannitol

Methyl gluceth

Methyl glucose

Methyl glucoside

Methylcellulose

Microcrystaline cellulose

Modified cellulose gum

Modified food starch

Molasses (corn syrup may be present; know your product)

Mono and di glycerides

Monosodium glutamate

MSG

Natural flavorings

Olestra/Olean

Polydextrose

Polylactic acid (PLA)

Polysorbates (e.g. Polysorbate 80)

Polyvinyl acetate

Potassium citrate

Potassium fumarate

Potassium gluconate

Powdered sugar

Pregelatinized starch

Propionic acid

Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol monostearate

Saccharin

Salt (iodized salt)

Semolina (unless from wheat)

Simethicone

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose

Sodium citrate

Sodium erythorbate

Sodium fumarate

Sodium lactate

Sodium starch glycolate

Sodium stearoyl fumarate

Sorbate

Sorbic acid

Sorbitan

Sorbitan monooleate

Sorbitan tri-oleate

Sorbitol

Sorghum (syrup and/or grain may be mixed with corn)

Splenda (Artificial sweetener)

Starch

Stearic acid

Stearoyls

Sucralose (Artificial sweetener)

Sucrose

Sugar

Talc

Threonine

Tocopherol (vitamin E)

Treacle

Triethyl citrate

Unmodified starch

Vanilla, natural flavoring

Vanilla, pure or extract

Vanillin

Vinegar, distilled white

Vinyl acetate

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Vitamin supplements

Xanthan gum

Xylitol

Yeast (look for gluten free labels)

Paper containers and plastic wrappers may contain an inner lining that is coated with corn.  The following are examples:

Boxes

Cups

Plates

Milk or ice cream cartons

Use caution with the following foods, which may include sources of corn from various products, such as cornstarch, corn syrup and corn/vegetable oils:

Commercial soups

Peanut butter

Various meats (cold cuts, ham, hotdogs, sausages)

Breaded or fried foods

Cheese

Chili

Chop suey

Chow mein

Cheese spreads

Fish sticks

Mixed vegetables (frozen, canned)

Succotash

Pork and beans

Creamed vegetables

Breads dusted with corn meal

Graham crackers

Baking mixes

Pancakes (certain mixes)

Pancake syrups

English muffins

Gravy (thickened with corn starch, for instance)

Salad dressings

Canned or frozen fruits sweetened with corn syrup

Dates and other fruit confections

Ice creams, sherbets

Chocolate milk, milk shakes, soy milks, eggnog

American wines, whiskey, gin, beer, ale

Carbonated beverages such as Coca-Cola, 7-Up, etc

Lemonade

Instant coffees

Powdered sugar

Jams and jellies

Candies

Catsup

Chewing gums

Sauces

White distilled vinegar

Monosodium glutamate

Baking powder

Cake yeast

Bleached flour

Gelatin capsules

Non Edible Items That May Contain Corn Ingredients:

Adhesives (envelopes, stickers, stamps)

Toothpastes

Medications (both over the counter and prescription)

Laundry starch

Eleven Foods You Should Never Eat Ever Again

With the exception of a birthday cake here and there and the like a few times a year, we stay clear of these eleven foods. I lump most of these foods into the same toxic and dangerous categories and weed killer and rat poison. 

Eliminating these from your diet can go a long way to restoring health and energy, too!

1) White bread, refined flours. White bread and refined flours have been stripped of virtually all vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients. Because of this, the body does not know how to properly digest and assimilate them, which can lead to health problems. Refined white flour has also been bleached with chlorine and brominated with bromide, two poisonous chemicals that have been linked to causing thyroid and organ damage. 

2) Conventional frozen meals. Most conventionally-prepared frozen meals are loaded with preservatives, processed salt, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients, not to mention the fact that most frozen meals have been heavily pre-cooked, rendering their nutrient content minimal at best (especially after getting microwaved again at home). Prepackaged frozen meals should be avoided in favor of fresh foods or homemade frozen dishes. 

3) White rice. Like white bread, white rice has been stripped of most of its nutrients, and separated from the bran and germ, two natural components that make up rice in its brown form. Even “fortified” white rice is nutritionally deficient, as the body still processes this refined food much differently than brown rice, which is absorbed more slowly and does not cause the same spike in blood sugar that white rice does. 

4) Microwaveable popcorn. This processed food is a favorite among moviegoers and regular snackers alike, but it is one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat. Practically every component of microwaveable popcorn, from the genetically-modified (GM) corn kernels to the processed salt and preservative chemicals used to enhance its flavor, is unhealthy and disease-promoting. On top of this, microwaveable popcorn contains a chemical known as diacetyl that can actually destroy your lungs. If you love popcorn, stick with organic kernels that you can pop yourself in a kettle and douse with healthy ingredients like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and Himalayan pink salt. 

5) Cured meat products with nitrates, nitrites. Deli meats, summer sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and many other meats sold at the grocery store are often loaded with sodium nitrite and other chemical preservatives that have been linked to causing heart disease and cancer. If you eat meat, stick with uncured, nitrite and nitrate-free varieties, and preferably those that come from organic, grass-fed animals. 

6) Most conventional protein, energy bars. By the way they are often marketed, it might seem as though protein and energy bars are a strong addition to a healthy diet. But more often than not, these meal replacements contain processed soy protein, refined sugar, hydrogenated fat, and other harmful additives that contribute to chronic illness. Not all protein and energy bars are bad, of course. Be sure to read the ingredient labels and know what you are buying. If it has ingredients you don't carry in your own pantry or can't grow in your own garden, it's probably better to pass it over for something healthier.

7) Margarine. Hidden in all sorts of processed foods, margarine, a hydrogenated trans-fat oil, is something you will want to avoid at all costs for your health. Contrary to popular belief, butter and saturated fats in general are not unhealthy, especially when they are derived from pastured animals that feed on grass rather than corn and soy. And if animal-based fats are not for you, stick with extra-virgin coconut oil or olive oil rather than margarine. 

8) Soy milk and soy-based meat substitutes. One of the biggest health frauds of modern times, the soy craze is a fad that you will want to skip. Besides the fact that nearly all non-organic soy ingredients are of GM origin, most soy additives are processed using a toxic chemical known as hexane, which is linked to causing birth defects, reproductive problems, and cancer. Soy that has not been fermented is also highly estrogenic, which can throw your natural hormone balance out of whack. 

9) “Diet” anything. Many so-called “diet” products on the market today contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame (Equal) and sucralose (Splenda), both of which are linked to causing neurological damage, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine disruption. Many diet products also contain added chemical flavoring agents to take the place of fat and other natural components that have been removed to artificially reduce calorie content. Instead, stick with whole foods that are as close to nature as possible, including high-fat foods grown the way nature intended, and your body will respond surprisingly well.

10) White, refined sugar. Does this need explanation? It's REALLy bad. Opt for kinder-to-your-blood-sugar options or more natural unrefined alternatives. Honey, molasses, licorice, cinnamon (sweetener AND actually helps diabetes), and pure maple syrup.

11) GM / BT Corn. The built-in pesticide Bt toxin has been integrated into certain GM crops to ward off pests. Bt corn, for instance, has actually been designed to produce the toxin directly inside its kernels, which are later eaten by both livestock and humans. In a recent study, researchers detected the Bt toxin in a shocking 93 percent of maternal and 80 percent of fetal blood samples. And 69 percent of non-pregnant women tested positive for the toxin in their blood. And this toxic corn is in EVERYTHING. Everything IS corn. If you shop in a grocery store anywhere outside of the whole food produce section, chances are nearly every box and package you pick up will have corn. See my post listing many of the corn containing foods and non-food items most average Americans consume and encounter in their everyday life.



 

Time Flies

My youngest daughter, Katy, 18, and her grandma Dot.

Where have the years gone!?!

Salt & Vinegar Chickpea Crisps

I made these yummy vegan snacks today and am so excited to try other flavors for my next batches. And there WILL be more batches.

My last few experiences with dried chickpeas wasn't a thrill. Between boiling them for homemade hummus, and milling the chickpeas into gluten/wheat-free flour, which broke my grinder- TWICE, I decided me and the 'old chickpea didn't have a harmonious relationship. So to make this dish I opted for the canned variety (organic of course) this time around and avoided  the bitter aftermath. 

Recipe:

2 cans chickpeas

3-4 cups white vinegar

Course sea salt

Olive oil

Drain chickpeas and put into a pot. Pour vinegar over top until just covered. 

Add a pinch of salt.

Bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and let sit 30 minutes.

Drain well.

Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Spread chickpeas out onto the parchment.

Drizzle the chickpeas with olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt. 

Roll the chickpeas around in the oil to get a good coating of oil.  

Don't skimp on the oil, though don't add so much there is a big pool of it. Lots of salt. Enough to make sure everything is covered well. At least, those are my own instructions. The salt falls off and since it's coarse don't be afraid to be a little liberal here. 

Bake at 425 for 45 minutes. Turn over halfway through and check on them after a half hour or so to make sure none are too brown. 

Personally, I set my heat at a cool 420 degrees, turn the chickpeas over at 20 minutes, scoot them around again at the 1/2 hour mark, turn the oven off at 45 minutes, and let them sit for 5-10 more minutes, watching carefully to make sure they don't burn. I think that helps crisp up the last few that need a little more time without burning the batch.

Most come out nice and crispy. Some a little burnt, but only a couple. Some a little soft inside. All are really delicious, though. I've only ever done the salt & vinegar, and I'm trying to figure out how to make them crispy and barbeque flavored without bad ingredients.  

DO be careful when they first come out. They are HOT. 

I think they are yummiest when they are still warm, but a great crunchy snack cooled off, too. Plus they have a protein punch and aren't a GMO potato or corn product. Yay!

Karma & Hecate

Karma & Hecate hanging out. 

Stamping with Sea Creatures

We have this fun stamp set with realistic sea creatures. The kids colored in their ocean, then stamped in their inhabitants. The shark, whale and seals are always popular when we play with this. 

For Hours of Play, All You Need is One VERY Sophisticated...

Box.

Pretty Clouds

A few weeks ago we had some really big clouds that were pretty to watch. They were pre and post rain clouds as it turned out. There's something calming about blue skies and big fluffy clouds. 

Alex Turning Nine

It happened in a blink of an eye. Alex is officially 9 years old! 

April 15th, 2013. 

Brookie Cookie

Brooklyn's mom & dad call her Brookie Cookie, but because Brooklyn is a little hard for some of the little ones to say, and because I say Brookie, the kids actually now call her Brookily, which is too sweet and adorable.

By the by, there are oodles of products, sites & graphics for Brookie Cookie. Here are some neat ones...

An all natural Brooklyn based cookie company. Click the logo to link to their site.

A children's book titled 'Brookie Cookie Bookie' about friendship, acceptance and celebrating our differences. Click the picture to link to the site.

And when in doubt...

Mentos & Diet Coke

Alex saw the Mentos and Diet Coke experiment on Myth Busters and HAD to try it.

Kamron's 5th Birthday Party

Earlier this month Kamron turned 5 years old, and his family celebrated with a party! 

Kamron opening presents.

Kam's mom made this awesome spiderman cake. Actually the whole family took the day off from work and school that Friday and they all worked on the cakes and decorations together. How fun! 

Getting ready for the pinata. 

Pinata carnage.

Alex stuffing a mangled donkey leg full of booty.

Alex sharing some of his bounty with Kamron. Unlike my child who was raised by wolves, Kamron   sweetly picked up the few pieces of candy that landed by his feet, but didn't dive into the candy pit like some.

Alex with his winnings. I was thinking of how I could convince him to leave it there. No such luck it turns out.

Kamron and his mommy, Tabitha!

Kamron, Ethan & Elijah.

Dad helping to slice and serve the cake.

Desiree, Ethan and Elijah enjoying their delicious cake. 

Alex.

The boss, aka Dean, and his hog. 

Our Friend Wormy

Once Upon a Time, in a land not very far away, there was a worm....

"Ms. Wendy, we found a worm!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, our worm is pregnant. It's going to have a baby!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, Wormy is lost. It's going to have a baby and we need to find it!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, we found Wormy! 

"Ms. Wendy, we have a pet worm!"

"Ms. Wendy, Wormy is our friend!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, we're teaching Wormy how to swing!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, now Wormy knows how to swing. He's big, now!"

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, we buried Wormy so he can take a nap."

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, we found Wormy again!"

five minutes later...

(while holding a limp worm up) "Ms. Wendy, why is Wormy not wiggling anymore?"

five minutes later...

(while holding up a popsicle stick from the sandbox) "Ms. Wendy, Wormy got sick so he had to go to the doctor and they had to cut him open and now he's gone. We miss Wormy."

five minutes later...

"Ms. Wendy, we are going to try to find Wormy again tomorrow!"

The End.