Food ingredients

Grocery Shopping 101.

Basic Toxins to Avoid/Minimize

Aluminum-Containing Foods and Products

  • Aluminum Foil - Use unbleached parchment paper instead

  • Antacids (Genexa offers a clean version)

  • Commercial Baking Powder (look for aluminum free)

  • Artificial Flavor

  • Artificial Food Dyes (look for these names)

    • Artificial Color

    • Blue #1, 2

    • Citrus Red #2

    • FD&C Lakes (combination of colors)

    • Green #3

    • Orange B

    • Red #40, 3, Allura Red

    • Yellow #5, 6, Tartrazine

  • Artificial or Refined Sweeteners

    • Aspartame

    • Corn Syrup Solids

    • Dextrose - Derived from GMO corn

    • High Fructose Corn Syrup

    • Saccharin

    • Sucralose

  • BHA/BHT

  • Calcium or Sodium Caseinate

  • Canned Foods - Specifically avoid BPA/BPS lining. Glass containers preferred where available

  • Carrageenan

  • Commercial Salt (think Morton's salt)

  • Enriched Wheat (look for whole wheat as the first ingredient in any grain product)

  • Factory-Farmed Meat, Eggs, Dairy, and Fish

  • GMOs (might say bio-engineered. Look for Non-GMO certification)

  • Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated Fats and Oils

  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

  • Industrial Seed Oils -

    • Canola

    • Corn

    • Cottonseed

    • Grapeseed

    • Refined Palm

    • Safflower

    • Soybean

    • Sunflower

  • MSG

  • Natural Flavors (these could go either way, it's better to take caution until you know exactly what they are in a product)

  • Plastic Cooking or Eating Utensils

  • Plastic Food Containers - Opt for glass. Do not heat food in plastic

  • Processed Meat (specifically look for nitrites/Sodium nitrates).

  • Sodium Benzoate (specifically when ascorbic acid is also an ingredient)

  • Soy Protein Isolate

  • Sunflower or Soy Lecithin

  • TBHQ

  • Tap or Fluoridated Water (64% of bottled water brands are just rebottled tap water; maybe with a little minerals, extra filtration, fluoride, etc. added)

  • Teflon or Non-Stick Pans - Use cast iron pans with caution (quality matters). Make sure it’s not seasoned with soybean/seed oils . Opt for quality All-clad stainless steel. If ceramic is preferred, Xtrema is better.

  • Ultra-Pasteurized, Fortified, or Reduced-Fat Milk and Dairy Products (Raw, Low-pasteurized is best. If not, grass-fed/organic whole milk)

  • Xantham or Guar Gum

Fresh produce section in a grocery store with carrots, radishes, cilantro, romaine lettuce, and other vegetables on display with price tags.
Assorted vegetables including squash, bananas, carrots, onions, beans, chili peppers, eggplants, and banana flowers laid out on a burlap surface.
An overhead view of a rustic wooden table set with various dishes including a grilled tomahawk steak with roasted potatoes in a skillet, sliced steak on a black plate, grilled tortilla with toppings, coleslaw, shredded beef, sliced limes, and assorted condiments. Fresh herbs and a glass of red wine are also present.
Bowl of mixed vegetables including mushrooms, shredded carrots, kale, and radish sprouts with a small dish of dressing, held by hands.