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Death By Breakfast Cereals
By Linda | July 21, 2008
Are you doing yourself more harm than good with your whole grain breakfast cereal? Even without the addition of sugars, hydrogenated fats, and chemicals, cereals can be toxic.
In order to become a crispy wheat flake, a crunchy grain nugget, or an oaty “o,” a whole grain must be subjected to a grain-damaging extrusion process.
Grains are processed into flakes and nuggets with use of high temperatures and pressure, which extrude grain slurry through a special shaped hole that creates the desired form. This process not only destroys fragile vitamins and minerals found in whole grains but also renders the essential fatty acids and amino acids toxic. Cereal company research shows this.
An unpublished study by Ann Arbor University compared rats fed corn flakes and water with rats fed ground corn flakes boxes and water. The rats fed the box lived longer than the rats fed the corn flakes! Before their death, the corn flake fed rats developed schizophrenic behavior, bit their fellow rats and went into convulsions.
In another study, researchers found rats lived longer on plain water than with puffed wheat cereal. The study found rats lived over a year when fed unprocessed whole wheat. Yet when that wheat was puffed into a cereal and fed to the animals, it killed them off in less than two weeks. Rats fed plain water lived for two months, far longer than those fed cereal.
This does not even account for the infamous health effects of the corn syrup, fructose and other sugars found in most breakfast cereals, nor the disease-producing effects of trans fats and damaged oils.
Although I believe the high sugar content and processed oils of many breakfast cereals are the among the most significant dietary contributors to obesity, diabetes and other diseases, some researchers say natural whole grain cereals may be more harmful than sugary cereals because their higher protein content results in more amino acid toxins and peroxides.
Improve your health with eggs and/or breakfast meats or cooked whole grains such as whole oats, whole rye, millet or quinoa. Whole grains purchased in bulk are also less expensive than dry cereals, an issue for many these days.
How important is boxed cereal for you? What is your favorite healthy breakfast?
Topics: Breakfast, Uncategorized |
July 21st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I have always been a cereal lover, but am cautious of them, thanks to you! I have been eating Organic flax pumpkin granola, which also contains omega 3’s. I wld love yr opinion of this product, if you know of it. The main ingredient is organic rolled oats. Thanks!
July 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I don’t eat boxed cereal for breakfast but I have whole grain toast with peanut butter quite frequently so this concerns me. What about bread made with sprouted grain?
July 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Hi Daryle:
I am not a big fan of granola for a couple of reasons: Raw or lightly toasted grains contain phytates, chemicals which bind important minerals so you can end up short on zinc, iron and other nutrients if you eat this all the time.
Second, this particular product contains cane juice and molasses, two forms of sugar, natural but sugar nonetheless.
It is also made with soybean oil, which can reduce thyroid function and block a protein-digesting enzyme. A better choice is cooked organic rolled oats with ground flax seeds and pumpkin seeds you can add yourself. Add a bit of real butter and pinch of sea salt and you have a hearty, satisfying and healthy meal.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hi Nancy:
Sprouted grain breads are an excellent grain choice. They are not “extruded,” the chemical process that leads to the damaging changes with cereals. My preference for you however is to switch to almond or cashew butter. Peanuts tend to harbor a mold that is hard on the liver and if the peanuts are not organic, the peanut butter will be loaded with pesticides. The crop is heavily sprayed.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I have been wondering about cold cereal. We eat mostly organic oatmeal we add seeds berries. Now I know I will not buy the cold cereals. Do you have any other ideas for a breakfast?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for your comment Barbara. Organic oatmeal with seeds and berries is excellent. If you have any signs of dryness (dry skin, slow elimination, hunger before lunch) be sure to add a tablespoon of real butter or coconut oil. These do wonders for your skin and the taste. I am emailing you a list of healthy breakfast ideas.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
My kids have a fascination with boxed cereals so we eat them, but they are considered a treat or an addition to a real meal like eggs.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
It is a bit disturbing to have to think about the organic granola I eat. But I don’t eat it every day and it has to be better than the big cups of coco-puffs my 14 yo daughter and her friends eat. I call it chemicals in a cup, but sometimes I think the fact that I give them a hard time about it only makes it taste better!
I eat such different breakfast, lunch, and dinners every day that I just have to think if I lose minerals on the day I eat granola, I must gain them back on other days.
Wills last blog post..Toxic Ignorance
July 26th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Thanks Linda for reporting these research findings. I always knew that commercial cereals were full of junk, but did not know just how toxic they really were. This is really horrible and kids eat this day in and day out—what a horrible way to start their day. Do you suggest ANY cold cereals?? My girls eat either cooked grains, eggs with sausages each day. I like to change it up for them once in awhile and was wondering if there is any cereal that can do that??
Thanks so much for your informative words…
July 27th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Granola is not extruded so at least not toxic. Look for brands with the least amount of added sugar and without vegetable oils.
Another idea is whole milk yogurt with toasted, ground flax seeds and walnuts — the flax seeds have a nutty, grainy texture much like a cold cereal but far healthier and more satisfying. You might also try adding crushed almonds and pumpkin seeds. Yogurt is easier to digest and more nutritious than milk. Choose whole milk yogurts. Non-fat milk and yogurt lose 98% of their vitamins A and D a well as all their CLA and omega-3 fats.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Thanks, Linda. This is great information; my kids and husband eat lots of cereal. I’d love to hear other ideas for breakfast.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hey Linda,i have gone downhill as far as my eating goes .It doesnt take much,one thing wrong and an avalanche of sugary carby food follows.Do you have a healthy diet type of thing that I can get hold of.I know why this is happening but I need to know how to beat it.Thanks Michelle
michelle fergusons last blog post..Memorial to be held for Hendra victim (AAP)
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hi Michele:
I am not a fan of diets - there are issues inherent in diets that trigger eating and weight gain. I hear you with the one wrong food and you are out-of-control with the carbs. This may have to do with the appetite stimulents added to many processed carb foods.
I am sending you a guide on techniques to stop overeating. It sounds like biochemical triggers are at work here. This guide covers the biggies. You might also want to tune in to the teleclass on Unmet Needs I am teaching in September with a Compassionate Communication expert - between us we cover the emotional and biochemical triggers for overeating and cravings and give tools to stop. It’s a powerful approach.
Here’s link for info and registration. http://nvctraining.com/courses/telecourses/SH/eat-by-choice-xform.html