Should You Remove Carrageenan from Your Diet?
Aug. 28, 2022 -
What is carrageenan?
Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). You’ll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt.
Since the late 1960s, there’s been controversy surrounding the health effects of carrageenan. Some evidence suggests that carrageenan triggers inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and that it damages your digestive system. People have been petitioning for products with carrageenan to be labeled with a warning or removed entirely. Read on to learn more about this common food additive and why you may want to avoid it.
Products with carrageenan may be labeled as “natural,” but limited studies show that carrageenan may promote or cause:
Increased inflammation can lead to a greater likelihood of other diseases, such as:
- inflammatory bowel disease
- arthritis
- tendonitis
- chronic cholecystitis, or gallbladder inflammation
One reviewTrusted Source also suggests that there may be no substantial difference between “food-grade” (undegraded) and degraded carrageenan. Degraded carrageenan is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) version that isn’t approved. It’s even used to induce inflammation in animal studies. According to Cornucopia, test results of food-grade carrageenan carried at least 5 percent degraded carrageenan. One sample had about 25 percent.
But many of the studies conducted on the dangers of carrageenan were on animals and cells. Reports of bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive issues are mostly self-reported. People also report relief when they drop carrageenan from their diet. Healthline
Is Carrageenan Safe
Aug. 27, 2022 - DESCRIPTION: Carrageenan is a food additive used as a thickener and fat substitute in a variety of dairy and nondairy products. Concerns about potential intestinal tract damage are placed in the context of dietary consequences.
- Titanium dioxide is another additive used in nondairy substitutes. See Titanium Dioxide & Inflammatory Bowel Disease (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/titan...) for the latest on its safety. My acrylamide video can be found at Acrylamide in French Fries (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/acryl....
- Other videos on food additives include: • When Nitrites Go Bad (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/when-...) • Artificial Coloring in Fish (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/artif...) • Is Sodium Benzoate Harmful? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-so...) • Aluminum in Vaccines vs. Food (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/alumi...) • Are Artificial Colors Bad for You? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/are-a...) • Is Potassium Sorbate Bad for You? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-po...)
Carrageenan Warning! This “Healthy” Ingredient Causes Cancer, IBS and Gut Inflammation!
Aug. 27, 2022
Why Carrageenan in Food is Dangerous
Aug. 27, 2022 -
Trader’s Joes Branded Products and Carrageenan
Aug. 27, 2022 - This article will post later next week. Awaiting corporate office response.
Organic Dairy
| Buttermilk with Carrageenan | Buttermilk without Carrageenan |
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| (Organic buttermilk producers that used to add carrageenan have reformulated their products to be carrageenan-free) |
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| Chocolate Milk With Carrageenan | Chocolate Milk without Carrageenan |
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| Cottage Cheese with Carrageenan | Cottage Cheese without Carrageenan |
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| Cream with Carrageenan | Cream without Carrageenan |
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| Eggnog with Carrageenan | Eggnog without Carrageenan |
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| Ice Cream with Carrageenan | Ice Cream without Carrageenan |
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| Kefir with Carrageenan | Kefir without Carrageenan |
| No organic kefir found with carrageenan – carrageenan is sometimes used in conventional kefir |
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| Shelf-Stable Milk with Carrageenan (“milk boxes”) | Shelf-Stable Milk without Carrageenan (“milk boxes”) |
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| Sour Cream with Carrageenan | Sour Cream without Carrageenan |
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| Yogurt with Carrageenan | Yogurt without Carrageenan |
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Organic Dairy Alternative
| Almond Milk with Carrageenan | Almond Milk without Carrageenan |
|---|---|
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| Cheese Alternative with Carrageenan | Cheese Alternative without Carrageenan |
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At this time, we are unable to find any organic cheese alternatives without carrageenan. |
| Chocolate Soymilk with Carrageenan | Chocolate Soymilk without Carrageenan |
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| Coconut Milk with Carrageenan | Coconut Milk without Carrageenan |
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| Coconut Water with Carrageenan | Coconut Water without Carrageenan |
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| Coffee Creamer with Carrageenan | Coffee Creamer without Carrageenan |
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| Flax Milk with Carrageenan | Flax Milk without Carrageenan |
| At this time, we are unable to find any organic flax milk without carrageenan. | |
| Frozen Dessert (non-dairy) with Carrageenan | Frozen Dessert (non-dairy) without Carrageenan |
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| Oat Milk with Carrageenan | Oat Milk without Carrageenan |
| No organic oat beverages found with carrageenan. |
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| Rice Milk with Carrageenan | Rice Milk without Carrageenan |
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| Soymilk with Carrageenan | Soymilk without Carrageenan |
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| Soynog with Carrageenan | Soynog without Carrageenan |
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At this time, we are unable to find any organic soynog without carrageenan. |
| “Yogurt” (Non-Dairy) with Carrageenan | “Yogurt” (Non-Dairy) without Carrageenan |
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Organic Nutritional Drinks & Supplements
| Nutritional Drinks with Carrageenan | Nutritional Drinks without Carrageenan |
|---|---|
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Organic Deli Meat
| Deli Meat with Carrageenan | Deli Meat without Carrageenan |
|---|---|
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Organic Dips
| Dips with Carrageenan | Dips without Carrageenan |
|---|---|
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Organic Juice
| Juice with Carrageenan | Juice without Carrageenan |
|---|---|
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Organic Prepared Foods
| Desserts/Snacks with Carrageenan | Desserts/Snacks without Carrageenan |
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| Pizza with Carrageenan | Pizza without Carrageenan |
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| Prepared Meals with Carrageenan | Prepared Meals without Carrageenan |
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