tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post8486030773740344359..comments2024-02-20T04:43:47.934-08:00Comments on Eco-novice: Which is Worse: Aspartame or High Fructose Corn Syrup?Betsy Escandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13598482569526345086noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-49052520822888739002013-04-05T07:32:18.881-07:002013-04-05T07:32:18.881-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kim Dalyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18013785440648702886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-52226261733872107522011-05-20T10:10:41.170-07:002011-05-20T10:10:41.170-07:00Thanks, Natalie. The point, IMO, is that if your ...Thanks, Natalie. The point, IMO, is that if your food contains L-Cysteine, you don't really know (unless you call the manufacturer and also trust that they can accurately tell you the derivation, which I doubt they can) whether it's derived from human hair, chicken or duck feathers, E. coli or something else. Still disturbing in my book. Personally, I would never have guessed that ANY food ingredient was EVER derived from human hair. One site I said they used to sweep up hair from Chinese salons to use. I mean, who thinks of this stuff?<br /><br />Isn't it fun to be vegan? (I'm not vegan, by the way.) Vegans were aware of the weirdness of many processed food ingredients long before the rest of us. This is the mixed blessing of having special dietary needs -- you actually bother to research what your food is made of. I think parents whose kids have allergies also find this to be true.Betsy Escandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13598482569526345086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-77445217304172941022011-05-20T09:57:46.079-07:002011-05-20T09:57:46.079-07:00Just a clarification from your vegan sister... L-c...Just a clarification from your vegan sister... L-cysteine, which is found in many store-bought white breads (good sourdough or Grandma Sycamore being exceptions) is not always made from human hair. Many sources say it can be made from human hair, chicken or duck feathers, or other ingredients often used to make gelatin, and that the source usually depends on the country of origin (meaning you won't know unless you call each company and ask). So people who don't have issue eating gelatin may not find issue with eating L-cysteine. <br /><br />Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) has a good explanation of L-cysteine. <br />http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faqingredients.htm#cystine<br />VRG says that synthetic sources are available, but are used less frequently because of their expense (although this may change over time as consumers call companies and tell them they don't want to eat human hair or chicken or duck feathers).<br /><br />Wikipedia says "L-Cysteine was once obtained industrially by hydrolysis of hair and keratin. The main contemporary route involves fermentation utilizing a mutant of E. coli. Wacker Chemie introduced a route from substituted thiazolines. Following this technology, L-cysteine is produced by the hydrolysis of racemic 2-amino-Δ2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid using Pseudomonas thiazolinophilum." HUH?!?! So maybe E.coli instead of animal hair. What a relief! The point is, I don't feel I should have to RESEARCH every ingredient in my food. Why are there ingredients in there that no one can pronounce?<br /><br />L-cyteine has long been on our list of to-avoid "ingredients" (or "food stuff" as my sister-in-law calls non-food in food), which is why we almost exclusively eat homemade wheat/flax bread at our house. My kids consider Grandma Sycamore white bread (mostly air and probably nutritionally void) a dessert or treat.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10991484269710265540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-77832746197086235782011-05-19T15:53:47.152-07:002011-05-19T15:53:47.152-07:00Jessica, I don't have a followers widget, but ...Jessica, I don't have a followers widget, but you can subscribe by RSS feed (in the top of my right sidebar).Betsy Escandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13598482569526345086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-78300789041598908522011-05-19T09:45:29.315-07:002011-05-19T09:45:29.315-07:00That hair story is so disgusting!
My biggest issu...That hair story is so disgusting! <br />My biggest issue with soda is that it doesn't actually quench my thirst, it just makes me thirstier. I'm all for a tall glass of ice water.megwriteshttp://www.megwrites.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-65743501444836712092011-05-18T12:18:20.175-07:002011-05-18T12:18:20.175-07:00Betsy: We love it. I even found soda flavor mixes ...Betsy: We love it. I even found soda flavor mixes that are natural and made in the US and are in glass at William Sonoma.<br /><br />It's also great because you can add just as much carbonation as you want. I make some for my MIL and she can't handle a lot of carbonation so I just lightly carbonate her's.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02583524755306491510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-18165793609668920952011-05-17T22:49:07.316-07:002011-05-17T22:49:07.316-07:00Lori and Nisha, it's true. I wish my sister c...Lori and Nisha, it's true. I wish my sister could remember the exact ingredient. Maybe it was this: L-cysteine. That's what I came up with when I googled food ingredient derived from human hair. Apparently they can make that one other ways too (pig hooves, etc.). Apparently, a common dough conditioner. <br /><br />Thanks, Jessica!<br /><br />Lisa, I love the idea of making your own soda. Personally, I never could handle carbonation, but for the soda lovers out there, a great option.Betsy Escandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13598482569526345086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-72364541240893607802011-05-17T20:54:03.571-07:002011-05-17T20:54:03.571-07:00Both! I buy organic food, make most food from scra...Both! I buy organic food, make most food from scratch and if I want soda I go for natural sodas in glass bottles or more often I make my own using my SodaStream.Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Greenhttp://www.retrohousewifegoesgreen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-58194201553169739362011-05-17T20:53:01.627-07:002011-05-17T20:53:01.627-07:00Thanks for visiting my blog. I always learn lots ...Thanks for visiting my blog. I always learn lots about easy ways to be healthy and green from reading your blog. You are doing a great job of sharing information. <br /><br />I'm off to find your followers button so I won't miss a post.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11503676327555462834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-4632122951813295572011-05-17T19:33:29.634-07:002011-05-17T19:33:29.634-07:00I can't even imagine what that ingredient was?...I can't even imagine what that ingredient was??? Human hair-really? I like your list of suggestions to avoid artificial sweeteners. I always sub out sugar and use agave or honey. Water is my drink of choice. I agree with you-avoidance is the healthiest choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264294700715447531.post-59525857955348300442011-05-17T19:08:36.206-07:002011-05-17T19:08:36.206-07:00hair...really?! That's nuts. But, I'm no...hair...really?! That's nuts. But, I'm not surprised. Local raw honey is my personal sweetener of choice, although I sure do love the taste of agave in my smoothies and my dessert of choice is air popped popcorn with peanut butter/maple syrup combination drizzled over - yeah, I know...you want some now, huh?! <br /><br />I've been doing research on xylitol and erythritol more recently and even though they claim these are very natural, I can't help but wonder the extensive processing they go through (just as refined white sugar).<br /><br />great topic!Nisha https://www.blogger.com/profile/14177523450388267730noreply@blogger.com