health | Jennifer Betesh

The Truth in Food Labeling – Food Additives to Avoid & Hidden Sources of MSG

Many people mistakenly think that flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate) are only in Chinese foods, and as long as they avoid Chinese foods, they are safe. Below you will see MSG in foods like Campbell’s soup, gravies and sauces. Taking a few minutes to scan food labels and make better choices in what you buy is the best investment you can make in your long-term health and longevity!

Some typical reactions that can occur from either MSG or the additives list below include: migraine headaches, insomnia, itchy rashes, asthma attacks, behavioral disorders, depression, heart irregularities, anxiety, arthritis, sinus problems and many digestive problems including diarrhea.

MSG, Ribonucleotides, Disodium Inosinate, and Disodium Guanylate are all flavor enhancers which add a salty, savory taste to foods.

They can be listed either by name or by additive number (sometimes called ‘E numbers’) as you will see below. Legally, these chemicals can also be ‘hidden’ in terms such as ‘spices,’ ‘yeast extract,’ ‘hydrolyzed vegetable protein,’ and ‘flavoring’ so I suggest avoiding products with any of these dodgy terms on the label.

MSG (E621) is known to cause migraine headaches and can also cause diarrhea. Ribonucleotide (E627, E635 or E631) is another salty food additive which can cause a itchy irritable rash, known as the ‘Ribo Rash.’ In my personal experience, I have seen Ribonucleotide (or Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate) cause a sudden rapid heart rate (up to 160 beats per minute) and also trigger anxiety attacks.

Let’s start looking at some labels.

Mmmm, mmmm, not so good!

Here we have a can of good ol’ fashioned Campbell’s Low Salt Chicken Soup. By all account it would appear to be healthy, in fact notice right on the label how it says ‘No MSG’ and ‘No Artificial Flavors.’ Well, I don’t know how they got away with that one, because if you look right on the ingredients list, you will see Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, both nasty chemical flavor enhancers.

You will also see Yeast Extract and Soy Protein Concentrate – legally MSG can be hidden in these ingredients and they do not have to report MSG as an additive.

Anytime you see a ‘yeast extract’ or ‘protein extract or concentrate,’ beware. In fact, put it back on the shelf. You see, this is where manufacturers are the masters of marketing. Everyone knows MSG is bad for you, and the companies know that, so they label their products as having ‘No MSG’ knowing that you will think it is a healthier choice, but of course they still have to add flavor to their artificial unnatural devitalized foods, so they add it in the form of other chemical additives which you have never heard of. Until now!!

And really, just look at this so-called ‘mechanically separated chicken’ – I mean, what is that?? That alone should have you running towards the hills!

Instant Loss of Health!

Next example.

Ok, here we have a Contintental Instant Cup of Beef Noodle Soup. They have done a good job of highlighting all the uses of wheat here, but they have not distracted me from seeing the truth.

The nasty hidden chemicals here will be in the yeast extract, herb extract, spice extract and flavor enhancer 635.

All spice, yeast, protein or even herb extracts can have MSG in them. Always watch for that term ‘extract,’ especially in salty foods.

And 635, well that is the mother of the Ribo Rash -in my opinion, it is the worst food additive of all time.

They are even nice enough to tell you that this product contains soy, wheat and milk, but they neglect to tell you about the cheap nasty chemicals in there too!

Be aware that the following additives contain MSG or free glutamate: hydrolysed vegetable protein, hydrolysed protein, hydrolsyed plant protein, yeast extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, hydrolysed oat flour. The following ingredients often contain MSG, even though it may not be declared on the label: malt extract, malt flavoring, stock, broth, natural beef or chicken flavoring, seasoning, spices.
– from the book ‘Avoid Chemicals in Your Food’, published by the Consumer’s Association of Penang

Aint like it was back on the farm

In this example, we are looking at a can of Old El’ Paso Refried Beans. If you didn’t know the truth in food labelling, this one would completely pass you by.

But by now I hope you noticed the ‘yeast extract’ right away and also the ‘natural flavor.’ Again, both are legal terms used to hide MSG and the other flavor enhancers as well.

No - not the mac and cheese too!

So much for the Chinese food guys….we are not anywhere near Asian foods and look at all the hidden nasties! Yes, it’s true, even the mac and cheese is chemically altered. See for yourself – ‘natural flavors, yeast extract, spice extract and flavor enhancer 635.’ And somehow it is ‘National Heart Foundation Approved.’ Hmmm. I wonder how many people have experienced an increased heart rate due to that 635. Are you starting to recognize the difference between good marketing and truth in labeling?

A bit of MSG with your Daal?

Man, they were doing so good up until the very last ingredient – MSG (E621), otherwise known as Monosodium Glutamate. In your innocent lentil daal!!

MSG is a major excitotoxin and is known to damage the part of the brain that governs many other systems in the body. This damage may appear as symptoms of the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system. Thus it can manifest in disrupted sleep patterns, food cravings, and persistent hunger, which often leads to obesity. MSG also induces migraine headaches, asthma attacks, behavioral disorders, depression, heart irregularities, restless leg syndrome, arthritis, sinus problems and many digestive problems including diarrhea.
– from the book ‘Is MSG Safe?’, published by the Consumer’s Association of Penang

UPDATE: A recent study from John Hopkins researchers published in the journal Neurology (26 April, 2013) found that a neurotransmitter involved in arousal known as glutamate is abnormally high in people suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). They saw that the more glutamate found in the brains of people with RLS, the worse they slept.

Why do you think people have high concentrations of glutamate in their brain? From Monosodium Glutamate!!!

This is an epidemic, and in my opinion, a form of genocide, to kill people slowly without any smoking gun while making lots of money from prescribing them drugs along the way. There is really no more time to waste. We have to wake people up and show them the truth!

Tricky Food Labeling at it's Best

Here is a classic example of sneaky marketing used to hide what’s really in your food. Look at the Spaghettir Bolognese – they say right on the label that it has ‘No artificial flavors, No artificial preservatives, No Hydrogenated Fat and No Added MSG.’

Of course when you read the actual ingredients, you will see ‘yeast extract’ right there. And you know what that means by now, right? MSG!!

For a full list of terms that can have hidden MSG, go to the TruthinLabeling.org.

100% Natural, Real Stock??

Again, the masters of marketing are luring us in with the simple photo and tag of 100% natural. Then you look at the ingredients, and what do you see? Yeast extract, natural flavors and spices. Hmmm.

Teriyaki Marinade Yeast Extract Spice Blah

Once again, the dreaded yeast extract and spice tells us that there are hidden dangers here – could be any of the flavor enhancers, but most likely MSG and ribonucleotides.

Oyster Sauce - Beware of 621, 635 and yeast extracts!

Finally, I wanted to show you an example of a label in a non-English language. As you can see, the food additive numbers are universal, meaning they are the same everywhere in the world. Here, in the oyster sauce, we have MSG which is written as ‘Monosodium Glutamate,’ and we also have yeast extract, oyster extract (yet another hidden source of MSG) and if that wasn’t enough we have ‘Flavor Enhancer 631,’ which in Malay is written as ‘Penambah Perisa 631.’ This is the Disodium Inosinate, a most definite nasty additive.

This post tells you what to avoid. In a future post, I will be featuring what I consider to be ‘safe and healthy’ alternatives to get you on the right track to better health. Stay tuned!

If you think you are having a reaction to ribonucleotides or you want to ask me specific questions about my rash, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also please be sure to read Sue Dengate’s site and educate yourself on the dangers of all of the nasty additives.

For additional information, read my personal story of suffering from the ‘Ribo Rash.’
More information and a full list of foods to avoid: List of foods that contain 635, 627 and 631.
Learn more about processed foods and how to improve the quality of your food: Are you eating Processed Foods? Improve the quality of your food, your health & your life!.

More on Food Additives:

The Truth in Food Labeling – Food Additives to Avoid & Hidden Sources of MSG

by Jennifer Betesh

Many people mistakenly think that flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate) are only in Chinese foods, and as long as they avoid Chinese foods, they are safe. Below you will see MSG in foods like Campbell’s soup, gravies and sauces. Taking a few minutes to scan food labels and make better choices in what you buy is the best investment you can make in your long-term health and longevity!

Some typical reactions that can occur from either MSG or the additives list below include: migraine headaches, insomnia, itchy rashes, asthma attacks, behavioral disorders, depression, heart irregularities, anxiety, arthritis, sinus problems and many digestive problems including diarrhea.

MSG, Ribonucleotides, Disodium Inosinate, and Disodium Guanylate are all flavor enhancers which add a salty, savory taste to foods.

They can be listed either by name or by additive number (sometimes called ‘E numbers’) as you will see below. Legally, these chemicals can also be ‘hidden’ in terms such as ‘spices,’ ‘yeast extract,’ ‘hydrolyzed vegetable protein,’ and ‘flavoring’ so I suggest avoiding products with any of these dodgy terms on the label.

MSG (E621) is known to cause migraine headaches and can also cause diarrhea. Ribonucleotide (E627, E635 or E631) is another salty food additive which can cause a itchy irritable rash, known as the ‘Ribo Rash.’ In my personal experience, I have seen Ribonucleotide (or Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate) cause a sudden rapid heart rate (up to 160 beats per minute) and also trigger anxiety attacks.

Let’s start looking at some labels.

Mmmm, mmmm, not so good!

Here we have a can of good ol’ fashioned Campbell’s Low Salt Chicken Soup. By all account it would appear to be healthy, in fact notice right on the label how it says ‘No MSG’ and ‘No Artificial Flavors.’ Well, I don’t know how they got away with that one, because if you look right on the ingredients list, you will see Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, both nasty chemical flavor enhancers.

You will also see Yeast Extract and Soy Protein Concentrate – legally MSG can be hidden in these ingredients and they do not have to report MSG as an additive.

Anytime you see a ‘yeast extract’ or ‘protein extract or concentrate,’ beware. In fact, put it back on the shelf. You see, this is where manufacturers are the masters of marketing. Everyone knows MSG is bad for you, and the companies know that, so they label their products as having ‘No MSG’ knowing that you will think it is a healthier choice, but of course they still have to add flavor to their artificial unnatural devitalized foods, so they add it in the form of other chemical additives which you have never heard of. Until now!!

And really, just look at this so-called ‘mechanically separated chicken’ – I mean, what is that?? That alone should have you running towards the hills!

Instant Loss of Health!

Next example.

Ok, here we have a Contintental Instant Cup of Beef Noodle Soup. They have done a good job of highlighting all the uses of wheat here, but they have not distracted me from seeing the truth.

The nasty hidden chemicals here will be in the yeast extract, herb extract, spice extract and flavor enhancer 635.

All spice, yeast, protein or even herb extracts can have MSG in them. Always watch for that term ‘extract,’ especially in salty foods.

And 635, well that is the mother of the Ribo Rash -in my opinion, it is the worst food additive of all time.

They are even nice enough to tell you that this product contains soy, wheat and milk, but they neglect to tell you about the cheap nasty chemicals in there too!

Be aware that the following additives contain MSG or free glutamate: hydrolysed vegetable protein, hydrolysed protein, hydrolsyed plant protein, yeast extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, hydrolysed oat flour. The following ingredients often contain MSG, even though it may not be declared on the label: malt extract, malt flavoring, stock, broth, natural beef or chicken flavoring, seasoning, spices.
– from the book ‘Avoid Chemicals in Your Food’, published by the Consumer’s Association of Penang

Aint like it was back on the farm

In this example, we are looking at a can of Old El’ Paso Refried Beans. If you didn’t know the truth in food labelling, this one would completely pass you by.

But by now I hope you noticed the ‘yeast extract’ right away and also the ‘natural flavor.’ Again, both are legal terms used to hide MSG and the other flavor enhancers as well.

No - not the mac and cheese too!

So much for the Chinese food guys….we are not anywhere near Asian foods and look at all the hidden nasties! Yes, it’s true, even the mac and cheese is chemically altered. See for yourself – ‘natural flavors, yeast extract, spice extract and flavor enhancer 635.’ And somehow it is ‘National Heart Foundation Approved.’ Hmmm. I wonder how many people have experienced an increased heart rate due to that 635. Are you starting to recognize the difference between good marketing and truth in labeling?

A bit of MSG with your Daal?

Man, they were doing so good up until the very last ingredient – MSG (E621), otherwise known as Monosodium Glutamate. In your innocent lentil daal!!

MSG is a major excitotoxin and is known to damage the part of the brain that governs many other systems in the body. This damage may appear as symptoms of the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system. Thus it can manifest in disrupted sleep patterns, food cravings, and persistent hunger, which often leads to obesity. MSG also induces migraine headaches, asthma attacks, behavioral disorders, depression, heart irregularities, restless leg syndrome, arthritis, sinus problems and many digestive problems including diarrhea.
– from the book ‘Is MSG Safe?’, published by the Consumer’s Association of Penang

UPDATE: A recent study from John Hopkins researchers published in the journal Neurology (26 April, 2013) found that a neurotransmitter involved in arousal known as glutamate is abnormally high in people suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). They saw that the more glutamate found in the brains of people with RLS, the worse they slept.

Why do you think people have high concentrations of glutamate in their brain? From Monosodium Glutamate!!!

This is an epidemic, and in my opinion, a form of genocide, to kill people slowly without any smoking gun while making lots of money from prescribing them drugs along the way. There is really no more time to waste. We have to wake people up and show them the truth!

Tricky Food Labeling at it's Best

Here is a classic example of sneaky marketing used to hide what’s really in your food. Look at the Spaghettir Bolognese – they say right on the label that it has ‘No artificial flavors, No artificial preservatives, No Hydrogenated Fat and No Added MSG.’

Of course when you read the actual ingredients, you will see ‘yeast extract’ right there. And you know what that means by now, right? MSG!!

For a full list of terms that can have hidden MSG, go to the TruthinLabeling.org.

100% Natural, Real Stock??

Again, the masters of marketing are luring us in with the simple photo and tag of 100% natural. Then you look at the ingredients, and what do you see? Yeast extract, natural flavors and spices. Hmmm.

Teriyaki Marinade Yeast Extract Spice Blah

Once again, the dreaded yeast extract and spice tells us that there are hidden dangers here – could be any of the flavor enhancers, but most likely MSG and ribonucleotides.

Oyster Sauce - Beware of 621, 635 and yeast extracts!

Finally, I wanted to show you an example of a label in a non-English language. As you can see, the food additive numbers are universal, meaning they are the same everywhere in the world. Here, in the oyster sauce, we have MSG which is written as ‘Monosodium Glutamate,’ and we also have yeast extract, oyster extract (yet another hidden source of MSG) and if that wasn’t enough we have ‘Flavor Enhancer 631,’ which in Malay is written as ‘Penambah Perisa 631.’ This is the Disodium Inosinate, a most definite nasty additive.

This post tells you what to avoid. In a future post, I will be featuring what I consider to be ‘safe and healthy’ alternatives to get you on the right track to better health. Stay tuned!

If you think you are having a reaction to ribonucleotides or you want to ask me specific questions about my rash, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also please be sure to read Sue Dengate’s site and educate yourself on the dangers of all of the nasty additives.

For additional information, read my personal story of suffering from the ‘Ribo Rash.’
More information and a full list of foods to avoid: List of foods that contain 635, 627 and 631.
Learn more about processed foods and how to improve the quality of your food: Are you eating Processed Foods? Improve the quality of your food, your health & your life!.

More on Food Additives:

Are you eating Processed Foods? Improve the quality of your food, your health & your life!

by Jennifer Betesh

It doesn’t matter how industrialized we’ve become in this modern world today, we are still organic beings that come from the earth. Our body needs foods from the earth in order to be balanced, healthy and pure. If you do not eat such foods, you cannot expect your body to give you any less than unexpected results. Don’t be angry at your body for not functioning well on devitalized foods – it was never designed to do that!

Quality in Food adds to Quality of Life.

Healthy Fridge = Happy Belly

It is difficult to control what you eat in restaurants, but you can control what you bring into your home. Try as much as you can to only bring in organic, natural foods with no additives, colorings or chemical preservatives. Even reducing the amount of these that you consume can make a huge difference to the body.

Many of my clients say to me, ‘Well, I don’t eat processed foods.’ I can tell you that EVERYONE is eating processed food!! Milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, meat, canned soups, airplane food, inorganic coffee, crackers, biscuits, white sugar, white rice, frozen foods, oyster sauce, mayonnaise and wasabi peas are ALL processed foods, just to name a few.

It’s important that you start to understand exactly what you are putting into your body.

You are worth it!

Some of the items that I have in my kitchen for preparing foods are sesame seeds, flax seed, goji berries, mung beans, lentil beans, wheat berries, barley kernels, almonds, dates, dried apricots, sundried tomatoes, honey, cashews, cayenne pepper, cold-pressed olive oil, nutritional yeast, raw apple cider vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, ginger and lime. Do you see the difference?

Every time you go shopping, always try to make a slightly better choice that is more natural, whole and pure.

Remember, if you don’t spend your money on your food you will spend it on a doctor! As the father of modern medicine Hippocrates said himself, ‘Let your food be thy medicine and thy medicine by thy food.’

If you are interested in learning more, this is a great series of books published by the Consumer Association of Penang that cover such topics as:

What’s in your Bread (Did you know that human hair is added to bread??)
How Toxic is Your Cup of Coffee (Did you realize that the coffee crop is the most heavily chemical sprayed crop in the world??)
Is MSG safe? (Are you aware of all of the foods that contain MSG, including some baby formulas??)
Avoid Chemicals on your food (Get informed!)
What you should know about Genetically Modified foods (Hidden dangers in our foods, Frankenstein foods as I call them!)
The Real thing in Soft Drinks (A must-read for anyone still drinking this poison!)
Your Immune System – Your best protection against illness

More on Prevention:

Organic Raw Food Shopping in Koh Samui, Thailand

by Jennifer Betesh

Have a look a a local Thai market at Lamai Beach, Koh Samui Thailand and see for yourself what kinds of fresh, local or organics fruits and foods you can buy. Jennifer shows you which fruits are imported and which ones are locally grown and also gives you an idea of how much each items costs so you are prepared for your raw food Thailand experience!

Also shown are some of the organic foods for sale at the market, including green mango, banana flowers, morning glory, fresh lemongrass, seeds, green papaya, gotu kola and more! Learn about the fresh fruits for sale including dragon fruit, Thai apple, pineapple, pomello, papaya, longan fruits and rambutans.

More on Organic Food:

Organic, Vegan & Macrobiotic Food in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Woods Bio Marche

by Jennifer Betesh

The Woods Bio Marche restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a little healthy oasis right in the heart of the city. They serve food which is 100% organic, macrobiotic, all vegetarian and vegan with no chemicals, flavor enhancers or MSG. What a gem! Don’t be fooled by the lure of Indian and Malaysian street vendors all over town selling cheap food from their stalls – you can be sure those foods are full of low quality vegetables and a lot of additives and flavor enhancers. Remember, you get what you pay for! The Bio Marche is very affordable for the quality of food that they offer and certainly the investment in your health is well worth it!

Woods Bio Marche, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Macrobiotic concepts:

Food & environment are closely related
Eat food in it’s whole form
Pure food is medicine
Balance is the essence

Each dish on the menu is labeled with a specific health benefit, such as acid balance, bone health, anti-inflammatory, relaxation, digestive, good memory or high calcium, so you can plan your meal accordingly.

They have set menus for 26 RM and the average main meal costs about 12 RM.

The 5-Energy Salad with Miso Dressing

I had the 5-Energy Salad with Miso Dressing, a nice salad made with organic shredded carrot, cabbage, seaweed and cucumbers with sun-dried raisins and soaked soy beans. Very nice!

I was quite impressed to see their ‘charged water’ or energized water from crystal minerals, selling for 4 RM per glass. Another great element to add to any healing diet!

Their health food store sells many different items including nutritional yeast, organic flax seed, raw cashew nut spread, Manuka honey, fermented miso, organic nuts and beans, celtic seas salt and fresh organic vegetables.

The Woods Bio Marche is located on Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (right across the street from the Low Yat Plaza). They have other locations as well.

For more information, visit their website at http://www.macrobiotics-malaysia.com/.

More on Traveling Raw:

Feature Detoxification Organ: The Liver

by Jennifer Betesh

Natural Herbs for Liver Cleansing

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.

It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

In the detox world it’s easy to get so focused on the colon – having colemas, talking about mucoid plaque, etc. that many people forget about the liver. Doing a 7-day fast is fantastic as it gives all the organs a rest and of course gives the colon a good cleanse, but the liver needs cleansing too, especially to clear itself of any built-up heavy metal toxicity, parasites or excess fat.

The liver is the grand filter of the body and it purifies everything we eat, drink and breathe. It also purifies out emotions.

If you find yourself holding on to anger, frustration or impatience especially, it could be time for some specialized liver cleansing.

With the exception of the skin, the liver is the largest organ in the body and performs over 500 functions, far more than any other organ in the body. We cannot be healthy or recover from illness without a strong, clean well-functioning liver. If the liver is unable to carry out its full function, not only does it become congested and weak; all other organs will be more challenged as a result.

There are some simple, easy steps you can take to make sure you keep your liver clean.

Try to reduce the number of chemicals in your home including cleaning and beauty products. Switch to natural hair dyes and chemical-free makeup. It’s not that hard! Avoid fried foods and heated oils as much as possible. The rancid fats from these foods can add unnecessary stress and burden to the liver. Add more dark leafy bitter greens, carrot and beet root to the diet – these foods naturally help support good liver function.

If you want to do more specific liver cleansing, you can try a liver/gallstone flush at home. This is a fast and easy way to remove gallstones naturally. Additionally, you can make a simple daily liver flush drink which is a nice, gentle cleanse that supports natural liver detoxification.

You can also do a heavy metal detox or a parasite cleanse. There are many products available to do this at home and they do not require fasting in order to work. You may want to consider this as an in-between cleanse before your next colon cleanse, juice fast, Green Smoothie detox or raw food challenge.

Products from Amazon.com

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More on Lymphatic Detox/Cleansing:

Food Containing Ribonucleotides – The Ribo Rash from Food Additives 635, 627 and 631

by Jennifer Betesh

Chemicals & Additives are hiding in your foods!

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.

It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

This additive is salty and savory just like MSG. It is found in many of the same foods as MSG. The chemical name is Ribonucleotide, and often the reaction people get from eating it is an extremely itchy, irritable rash which we call the ‘Ribo Rash.’

If you think seaweed crackers are healthy, you are wrong!!
If you think flavored tofu is healthy, you are wrong!!

We are being poisoned slowly by these additives. People from all over the world are being affect by intolerances and allergies to food additives more than ever before. It is so important to eat a diet that is natural, whole and pure.

This additive, can be ANY of the following 3 names or numbers on a food label and they are universal, i.e. the same in every country in the world:

Ribonucleotide – #635 – E635

Disodium Guanylate – #627 – E627

Disodium Inosinate – #631 – E631

It is often used in combination with MSG, monosodium glutamate or #621.

Look for Food Additives 635, 627 and 631 in savory, salty processed foods such as:

Instant noodles such as Maggi brand
Flavored potato chips, Doritos, Pringles
Flavored (eg BBQ or smoked) chicken and other meats
Flavored biscuits and rice crackers, such as sun-dried tomato onion or garlic flavor
Packet or canned soups or stocks and stock cubes, even organic
Meat pies, hot dogs, sausage rolls
Some instant mashed potato
Seasoning in the stuffing of supermarket fresh chickens
Flavored salt added to rotisseried chickens, also used at KFC
Flavor added to frozen turkey
Pre-prepared or instant sauces, gravies and meals
Salad dressing, especially in restaurants
Flavored tuna
Fake butters and “heart healthy” margarines
Pasta meals including macaroni cheese
Marinated meat from your butcher
Sausages from your supermarket or butcher, even organic
Wasabi covered peas and most wasabi sauces
Some fast foods such as chicken, french fries, batter for fish, Burger King’s veggie burger, everything from KFC (it’s in their chicken salt)
Check even fresh chicken labels closely as there have been some recent reports
Pre-packaged curry sauces
Flavored tofu products (tofu hot dogs, tofu burgers, etc)
Oyster sauce
Green hot sauces used in Middle Eastern dishes (usually served with falafel/hummus)
Soy sauces, oyster sauces, jars of curry and Asian sauces
Some salsas – check labels

I still have to watch labels and always be aware of what I am eating.

Foods to Avoid, All Containing Artificial Flavoring

If you think you are having a reaction to ribonucleotides or you want to ask me specific questions about my rash, please leave a comment below.

For additional information, read my personal story of suffering from the ‘Ribo Rash.’

More about food labeling, go to: The Truth in Food Labeling – Food Additives to Avoid & Hidden Sources of MSG

How to find this stuff in organic foods, go to: MSG hidden in Packaged Foods: Why I don’t buy 90% of the ‘food’ at WholeFoods

And this one: Why is WholeFoods STILL using Canola Oil? (Hint: It’s NOT good for you!)

More on Food Additives:

Feature Detoxification Organ: The Skin

by Jennifer Betesh

Good skin starts on the inside

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.

It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

There is a multi-million dollar industry out there right now just waiting for you to buy more products, book more laser treatments, dermabrasions, rejuvenations and whatever other latest trend they develop in an effort to stop the process of aging and give you more youthful, healthy looking skin. What they forgot to mention, however, is that healthy skin starts on the inside. There is no amount of cream, ointment, gel, powder or tincture that can give you nice skin.

If you know my personal story of having had a terrible skin rash for over 2.5 years, you know that I speak from experience! During that time, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever get a compliment on my skin again. Now, I have people telling me that my skin is beautiful all the time! Do you want to know my secret? Living natural, whole & pure! It’s that easy! I avoid food additives and eat as natural a diet as possible. The only thing I put on my skin is pure, raw, organic, virgin cold-pressed coconut oil. From my perspective, if you can’t eat it, then you shouldn’t be putting it on your skin!

We have to remember that the skin is an organ, and in fact it is the largest organ in the entire body. It is also an eliminative organ, meaning it assists the body in detoxification by pushing out toxins directly through the cells and membrane of the skin. If you do not have a natural, healthy glow, it means that your body inside is overloaded with toxins. Nothing that you try on the outside will give you long-term positive results as long as you continue to hold on to too much toxicity inside.

When you do a cleanse, you are giving all of your organs a chance to rest, re-balance and rebuild. Any type of cleanse or detox will naturally help the skin.

There are some additional things that you can also do to help your skin do it’s job.

1. Wear more natural fibers in your choice of clothing.

Natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, silk, linen, bamboo and tencel all help the skin to breathe. Artificial materials such as nylon, lycra and polyester tend to be much more harsh on the skin because the skin is not able to breathe properly. Wearing these restrictive garments for too long can trap sweat and other surface debris, leading to breakouts, rashes and other skin disruptions.

In addition to the clothes you wear, you also need to be mindful of the sheets you sleep on and the pillowcases you use. Try to switch to cotton or silk for all your bed linens – it is much healthier for your skin!

2. Practice Dry Skin Brushing.

Dry Skin Brushing Daily for a Natural Detox

Natural Daily Detox

Dry Skin Brushing is something you can do every day as a quick and easy way to open up the pores of the skin, allowing the skin the breathe better and naturally brushing off toxins and surface debris. Be sure to use a natural bristle brush, not a nylon brush! You can usually find a natural dry skin brush at your local health food shop.

Use your Dry Skin Brush every day for about 5-7 minutes before you go into the shower (i.e. when your skin is dry). Always brush towards the heart. Dry skin brushing is also excellent for lymphatic circulation and is a good over-all natural detoxifier.

3. Regular Sauna or Steams

Essentially, the body eliminates most toxins naturally by sweating. Sweating speeds up the release of acids and toxins directly through the skin. Try to get into a routine of doing a steam sauna or a far-infrared sauna 2-3 times per week.

This will greatly assist your body’s detoxification process and is also a very good natural stress reliever!

Products from Amazon.com

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More on Skin Cleansing:

Jennifer @rawfoodbliss ranked #1 on Twitterholics Top 100 based on Followers in Koh Samui, Thailand

by Jennifer Betesh

#1 Bab-y!! 🙂

Jennifer @rawfoodbliss ranked Number 1!

Jennifer on Twitter @rawfoodbliss

Thanks to all my followers, I have been ranked Number 1 on Twitterholics Top 100 based on followers in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Who says we can’t change the world one person at a time? Let’s continue to join together, share ideas, support each other, open up awareness in ourselves and in others to live a more natural, whole and pure life. We can make the world a better place for our health, our happiness, our environment…for all living beings on this wonderful planet!

Join in on the love…follow me @rawfoodbliss! Thanks to all my Twitter followers for your tweets, #ecoMondays, #FollowFridays, RTs, love and support 🙂

More on Raw Food:

Raw Food Recipe for Raw Energy Balls – Fast & Easy!

by Jennifer Betesh

Raw Energy Ball – Pure Heaven & Good for You!

This is something that I just threw together with what I had at home.. You can use pretty much whatever dried fruits you like as long as they are soaked in advance. Don’t be afraid to try your own combinations and see what magical blend you can create!

Raw Energy Balls are great for kids, perfect for traveling, and make a nice desert for the entire family. You can also bring them to a picnic or share with your work colleagues – even people who are afraid of the raw food diet seem to love them 🙂

Always check your nuts and dried fruits for any signs of mold before you soak them. If you see any white fuzz or obvious mold, it’s best to throw out the whole container and buy fresh again. Mold is the biggest thing to watch out for in dried fruits. With raw cashews, always split the cashews in half and check the insides – that is where the mold usually hides. Again, if you see any mold, get rid of them!

Raw Organic Energy Ball Recipe

Try to soak in a glass or wooden bowl!

Ingredients:

Raw almonds (peeled) – 1-1.2 cups
Raw dried dates (pitted) – 15-20 dates
Dries apricots – 8-10 apricots
Fresh tamarind (or tamarind paste) – about 1/3 cup (paste – 1/8 cup)
Virgin Organic Coconut Oil (3 Tbsp.)
Himalayan salt or sea salt, to taste
Organic Coconut Flakes

Once soaked, your dried fruits should look plump again!

Instructions:

Soak Overnight: 1 -1.5 cups almonds; 15-20 dates (pitted); 8-10 dried apricots
After about 12-15 hours, rinse your soaked items and put aside.
Take even amounts of almonds to date to apricot ratios and blend them up in your mini-food processor. I usually add a pinch of Himalayan salt or sea salt and about 2 tsp. of fresh tamarind to each batch. For the above amount soaked, I would add about 1/3 – 1/4 cup fresh tamarind in total.

Mixing up some Raw Energy Love!

Once the whole lot is blended, put it back into a bowl, and add about 3 Tbsp. virgin organic cold-pressed coconut oil.
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly with a spoon. (Your blend should be nice and creamy with no chunks of fruit or nut. If it’s chunky, put it back in the food processor for another round.)
Have another bowl ready with dried coconut flakes, in total about 1 cup of flakes.
Take your blended mix and form into small balls with your hands, then roll the ball around the coconut flakes until covered. Continue all all your mix is gone.

Energy Ball Love

Let the energy balls refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours just to form well and to allow the flavors to blend.
Then, start to share your Raw Energy Ball Love!

Tamarind has a wonderful sweet and sour taste that adds a different element to the sweetness of the dates. (If you can’t find it fresh, try to look for a tamarind paste in your local Asian market.)

This recipe makes about 15 Energy Balls. Preparation time: About 1 hour.

More Raw Food Desserts:

Liver Flush Detox Drink – Recipe for a Daily Liver Cleanse

by Jennifer Betesh

In an earlier blog post, I talked about the Liver/Gallbladder Flush and outlined the recipe to naturally release gallstones from the liver. In this post, I want to share with you the recipe for a standard Liver Flush Detox Drink. Think of this drink as a much more mild version of the actual gallstone flush…in fact, do not expect any gallstones to come out from this drink as it is not strong enough to trigger that reaction in the body. This drink is perfect for those who are looking to do some occasional mild detoxing of the liver from time to time or for anyone who is preparing to do a fast or cleanse as this drink helps the body to begin a gentle phase of pre-cleansing.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.

It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Recipe for a natural, gentle Liver Flush Cleanse

If you feel unwell after you have had this drink, it is a sign that your liver is detoxing rapidly and for sure you would benefit from additional cleansing, whether it be colon cleansing or liver cleansing. You can have this drink once a day for a period of time when you are working on your liver, and if you enjoy the taste, feel free to have it every day! It is all natural and a fantastic blend of Mother Nature’s cures!

Simple Ingredients for a Powerful Cleanse

The Liver Flush Daily Detox recipe:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – anywhere from 2 Tbsp. to 1/3 cup, as you prefer
Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, 1/3 cup
Fresh garlic, 3-5 cloves
Fresh ginger, 1/2″
Cayenne Pepper, dash to taste
Freshly squeezed orange juice, 2 cups

Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and drink immediately. Think about all the good you are doing for your body!! Enjoy!

Keep in mind that freshly squeezed apple juice is also an excellent liver cleanser as well as dark leafy bitter green juices, so feel free to switch it up a bit if you start to get bored from the Liver Flush Drink. Remember too that everything you eat and drink which is natural will be good for you body!

Healthy Liver Flush Drink

The liver is affected by all chemicals, pesticides, caffeine and alcohol. Long term, to really help detoxify the liver, it is important to look at all of these elements and how they may be affecting your liver and your body’s health. Remember ‘Natural, Whole & Pure!’

Changing your cleaning agents, body products and clothing to more natural alternatives will all help to take the load off the liver. Imagine how grateful your body will be as you start to get closer and closer to your own Healthy Bliss!!

Products from Amazon.com

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How to Eat Clean: Start with Green Smoothies!

Check out my book Green Smoothies for Dummies – I’ve got loads of recipes using dark leafy greens and many delicious combos without any chemical additives, flavorings or refined sugar. It’s so easy!

Clean your body from the inside out and watch your skin improve, your hair and nails get stronger, your eyes look brighter and your waistline slim down….all naturally and effortlessly! It’s simply amazing and your only regret will be that you didn’t start drinking green smoothies sooner.

When you take care of your whole body, you get whole body health.

When you let your food be your medicine, you are always moving towards better health.

Find the book Green Smoothies for Dummies on iTunes or amazon.com!

For more on how to achieve your health goals and actually start feeling great, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

How to Book Your Health & Nutritional Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a smart phone or digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval for Iridology Analysis.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

More on anti-Aging:

More on Colon Cleansing:

More on Healing Crisis:

Visions of the Big Island, Hawaii

by Jennifer Betesh

Take a minute to enjoy the most amazing sights of Hawaii – the Big Island up close and personal.

There are 2 pages of pictures here so be sure to check out them all!

The aquaponics farm can be found at friendlyaquaponics.com. Be sure to check out their farm tour every Saturday on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is pretty amazing to see and not so hard to do yourself… The lettuce and taro growing from the trays looked pretty perfect and the best part is that there are no chemicals used! The fish in the system fertilize the water through their waste, a completely natural process with no depletion of minerals in the soils. This system could be the future of farming as we can continue to grow healthy food while giving Mother Earth time to regenerate and renew!

More on Traveling Raw:

The ‘New’ MSG – Is it even more deadly than MSG itself? Ribonucleotides & The Ribo Rash

by Jennifer Betesh

I like to call this additive the ‘New’ MSG, or monosodium glutamate, because many food manufacturers want to be able to market their product as having ‘No MSG,’ but of course they have to add flavor somehow…so they are using these other flavor enhancers more than ever before. We are being led from one nasty chemical to another with these additives in our foods.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.

It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

This additive is salty and savory just like MSG. It is found in many of the same foods as MSG. The chemical name is Ribonucleotide, and often the reaction people get from eating it is an extremely itchy, irritable rash which we call the ‘Ribo Rash.’ Below is my personal story of suffering from the ‘Ribo Rash.’

In 2004 I arrived in Australia and I started to develop a very itchy red rash on my body. It started under my arms, in my inner arms, on my lower back, on my breasts and around my eyes.

An unhappy sufferer of the Ribo Rash – – – Reclaiming my health (no more rash!)

The rash quickly got worse. It seemed to spread like fire actually, itching like crazy and making me mental. I had never experienced anything like it before, and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to what would trigger it. Creams seemed to make it worse – somehow they felt like they were ‘trapping’ the rash inside of me. I could not control my desire to tear my skin off from the itching; I especially enjoyed scalding my skin with hot water – what a sick feeling of relief that provided!! I also started getting heart palpitations…at any time my heart-rate would increase from 60 beats per minute to 140, and I had no history of anxiety whatsoever. I was generally eating quite healthy (at least so I thought); I didn’t smoke, barely drank, exercised (obviously), so how could I be so sick?

Friends told me to meditate. Doctors told me it was a simple case of excema. I had a complete round of testing done and everything came up fine. I was tested for heavy metal poisoning, various viral infections, standard food allergies (milk, wheat, eggs, gluten, etc); I had chest x-rays and EKG’s done – and they found nothing. The only thing that came up suspect during that time is my URIC ACID levels were high. The doctor suggested that I go on medication to bring down the uric acid; he said I was in danger of having gout. (I now know that food additive #635 Ribonucleotide can cause uric acid levels to rise.)

At the best of times, the rash was mainly around my eyes

Eventually, out of desperation, I started my own ‘elimination diet’ in an effort to narrow down the possibility of it being a food allergy. I just had this feeling that the rash was being caused by something I was eating. I had tried all the changes of soaps, washing powders, etc etc, and I felt like I had no other option to even try. It was at least 1 year of suffering with the rash at this stage, not always as bad as the photos mind you, but always present and always itching like hell. The elimination diet was worth a try.

I started off by telling people at my new job that I was a celiac (i.e. no wheat or gluten). I also started keeping a food diary, writing down what I ate daily and when I had an outbreak. The wheat and gluten-free diet helped tremendously, and now I know it is because ribonucleotides are often found in products containing wheat. About once a month or so I would still have an outbreak, but it seemed manageable – I kind-of got to the point where I accepted the rash as a part of my life and decided I could tolerate it in the small amounts I was getting.

Puffed out after a nice anaphylactic reaction to #635

At the same time though I started to get more of an anaphylaxis reaction in addition to the rash, so when I had an outbreak, my lips and throat would swell. I started to take anti-histamines and I carried them with me where-ever I went. It is crazy to think back now how I just carried on living through all of that!

Finally the day of reckoning came to me. I hadn’t eaten anything the previous day and I made a salad using the cheap salad packets at work. About an hour later I started to feel the itchiness start in my face, eyes and lips. Somehow I just knew it was the salad dressing. I quickly did an internet search on ‘food additives itchy rash’ and instantly found Sue Dengate’s site. Actually I sobbed tears of joy while I read countless stories of others who had suffered with the SAME EXACT symptoms as me, and I KNEW that I was not crazy, I knew at that moment that I had found the cause of my suffering. There was no doubt in my mind that I was suffering from the Ribo Rash. I noted the list of foods on her site that contain 635, and when I checked my food diary, EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAD A REACTION I had eaten #635. Even on the wheat-free gluten-free diet, I realized that I had eaten seaweed-flavored rice crackers, the veggie burger at Hungry Jack’s (with no bread), cheap salad dressings, and other flavored tofu products which were causing my outbreaks. Sometimes when I try to tell people what happened to me, they cut me off and say, well I don’t eat any of that crap…and I say YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE CRAP THAT YOU ARE EATING!!

I was not eating junk food. If you think seaweed crackers are healthy you are wrong!! If you think flavored tofu is healthy you are wrong!! We are being poisoned slowly by these additives. It was 9 months into the elimination diet when I finally made this life-altering discovery.