5 Supplement Additives that Don't Deserve the Hype

In this post we review five ingredients used in sports supplements which are currently the target of "clean label campaigns", removed in favor of simpler, more consumer-friendly food additives. We discuss the safety concerns and why consumers should not believe the hype and gripes.

Carrageenan

Silicon Dioxide and Silicate Salts.

Vanillin and Vanilla Flavor

Titanium Dioxide

Acesulfame Potassium ("Ace-K")

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Danielle Robertson aka the “Green-Eyed Guide” is a food biochemist, former gymnast, and the author of “Are You a Monster or a Rock Star: A Guide to Energy Drinks — How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely”. She enjoys adding gymnastics modifications to her weight training workouts, blogging to demystify food science, and discussing anything caffeine or Harry Potter related. Learn more at GreenEyedGuide.com or take on any of her workouts for FREE HERE!
OTHER FITGURUS BLOGS BY DANIELLE ROBERTSON:

• 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Vitamin B5
• Caffeine and Volumetrics: 3 Traps to Avoid
• When Energy Drinks Dress Up Like Workout Supplments
• Caffeine, Drop Sets and the 5 Levels of Fatigue

Panera KNOW-No Project: Part V of V

Soggy spinach, crunchy chips, moist bread - texture is as important as flavor in consumer acceptance. For the fifth and final part of the Panera KNOW-No project, we review the food science of the texture modifiers on the No-No List.

In May 2015, Panera published a list of ingredients that would be removed from their food. Several other companies have made similar commitments to simplify their ingredients, but it's rare these announcements address why the ingredient was in the food in the first place. This is a missed opportunity to celebrate the food science. Thus, this was my inspiration for this project. For each ingredient, you'll find a brief explanation of its purpose, safety concerns if any, and whether a natural counterpart can perform as well or better. [For Part I, Overall Response, Part II, Sweeteners, Part III, Color/Flavor Enhancers, and Part IV, Preservatives, see previous posts].

Part V of V - Texture Modifiers (and remaining miscellaneous ingredients)

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Energy Drink (Alternative) of the Month - September 2015

I’ve been reviewing the Energy Drink of the Month for over two years now and each month I’ve appointed a product that beats the stereotype. For the first time, I am compelled by nerdy fascination to nominate something non-liquid for this award.

The Energy Drink (alternative) for the Month of September is EliteOps Energy Strips.

Thus far, only Fierce Arctic Mint flavored strips are available, but this product is brand-new! As of this review, the product is available online, in South Florida, and is scheduled to launch nationally in October 2015.
To truly appreciate this product, let’s review (1) The Brand and Its Values; (2) Who and what this is for and (3) What’s in it. 

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Protect Your Meat - Food Science on Fit Gurus

BHA, BHT, and TBHQ are synthetic antioxidants used to preserve meat from degradation and lipid oxidation. We review the problem, the solution, the synthetic/artificial strategy, the natural strategy, and the watch-outs for future use of natural antioxidants.

Protect Your Meat :

Click HERE to read the Green-Eyed Guide article on FitGurus:

Did You Know...

Green-Eyed Guide articles are now featured on FitGurus.com -- it's Food Science meets fitness!
Here's what we've been talking about lately:

• 3 Things You Didn't Know About Vitamin B5
• Caffeine and Volumetrics - 3 Traps to Avoid
• When Energy Drinks Dress Up Like Workout Supplements -- Part 1: Pre-exercise and During-exercise/Hydration- supplements and Part II: Post-exercise/Recovery
• Don't Play Favorites -- Caffeine, Drop Sets, and the 5 Levels of Fatigue

♦

 Thanks for your support! 

Learn how Guarana is different from coffee, and what panax ginseng has to do with the movie Speed or the book Flowers for Algernon. Learn which B-vitamin can damage your nerves if over-ingested, and how to use the 5 Levels of Fatigue to find the perfect energy drink for your own needs and lifestyle.
The Energy Drink Guide -- your one-stop reference for the common energy drink ingredients: what they are, where they come from, what they (are supposed to) do, and how much is too much. (available through iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more)
Show your support at Patreon (for as little as one buck!)
Visit/Like the Facebook Page
Follow @GreenEyedGuide on Twitter

Know Thy Enemy - The Food Science of Sugar on FitGurus

Understanding the other functions of sugar helps explain why a product seems so dramatically different, or why other ingredients become necessary, when the sugar is reduced or removed.

 

The 5 OTHER Functions of Sugar

Click HERE to read the Green-Eyed Guide article on FitGurus:

 

Did You Know...

Green-Eyed Guide articles are now featured on FitGurus.com -- it's Food Science meets fitness!
Here's what we've been talking about lately:

• 3 Things You Didn't Know About Vitamin B5
• Caffeine and Volumetrics - 3 Traps to Avoid
• When Energy Drinks Dress Up Like Workout Supplements -- Part 1: Pre-exercise and During-exercise/Hydration- supplements and Part II: Post-exercise/Recovery
• Don't Play Favorites -- Caffeine, Drop Sets, and the 5 Levels of Fatigue

♦

 Thanks for your support! 

Learn how Guarana is different from coffee, and what panax ginseng has to do with the movie Speed or the book Flowers for Algernon. Learn which B-vitamin can damage your nerves if over-ingested, and how to use the 5 Levels of Fatigue to find the perfect energy drink for your own needs and lifestyle.
 
The Energy Drink Guide -- your one-stop reference for the common energy drink ingredients: what they are, where they come from, what they (are supposed to) do, and how much is too much. (available through iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more)
.
 
Show your support at Patreon (for as little as one buck!)
Visit/Like the Facebook Page
Follow @GreenEyedGuide on Twitter