“E” ELEMENTS IN OUR NUTRITION

Every pre-packed foodstuff is accompanied by a label which contains information about the chemical composition and the methods of standardization and storage. Apart from the date of expiry which is also on this label and which we should systematically look for before we purchase the product, there should also be the constituents of the food in order of priority according to their weight. Apart from the ingredients there is also a note of the chemical additives, in other words the “E” (trace elements) which are used by the companies preparing the foods, for which there are indications according to the “Cheumont” Hospital Centre in France, as well as other research centres, that these chemical additives are harmful to our health.
They are usually added in small amounts and that is why they are recorded at the end of the list of contents. We need to stress here that most people have no particular knowledge of chemistry and so most of these words cannot be understood. The result is that most times we take no notice and simply place the product in our shopping baskets.
It is important for us to know that the more chemical additives are contained in food, the less beneficial it is for our health. These chemical additives are used to add flavour, colour or aroma to the food and even a longer shelf life. The “E” code has been instituted by the European Union to indicate the presence of an approved particular chemical additive. Independent of whether the “E” trace elements are approved by the European Union, the more products we use that contain the “E” elements, the more we burden our health, especially if we consume them on a daily basis. The catalogue below is indicative and we hope that it will make us all more careful us consumers: we need to look very carefully at the ingredients of the products to be sure that they do not contain “E” elements.

E 102: Tartrazine (Harmful - allergies)
E 104: Quinoline yellow (Suspicious. – Banned in the U.S.A.)
E110: Sunset yellow (Harmful – causes allergies)
E120: Cochineal (Harmful)
E122: Carmoisine (Suspicious – has many side-effects)
E123: Amaranth ( Very dangerous and a carcinogen)
E124: Ponceau 4R (Harmful)
E127: Erythrosine (Harmful – causes hyperactivity in children)
E131: Patent blue V (A carcinogen – causes allergies)
E141: Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins (i) Copper complexes of chlorophylls (ii) Copper complexens (Suspicious)
E142: Green S (A carcinogen)
E150: Sulphite Ammonia Caramel (Suspicious)
E151: Brilliant Black BN, Black PN (Suspicious)
E153: Vegetable carbon
E161: Lutein (Harmful to the liver)
E171: Titanium dioxide (Suspicious)
E173: Aluminium (Suspicious)
E180: Lithol Rubine PK - cheese coverings (side effects for kidneys and lymphglands)
E210: Benzoic Acid (A carcinogen – causes allergies and asthma)
E211: Sodium Benzoate (A carcinogen)
E213: Calcium Benzoate (A carcinogen – causes allergies and asthma)
E214: Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (A carcinogen – causes allergies and asthma)
E215: Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (A carcinogen)
E217: Sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (A carcinogen)
E220 & E228: Sulphur Dioxide & Potassium Hydrogen Sulphite (Cause headaches, nausea and asthma)
E:230 & 232: Biphenyl, diphenyl - Sodium orthophenyl phenol
Mainly added to fruits, especially to citrus fruits which is why we transfer the taste to foods from our hands as we clean them.
E239: Hexamethylene tetramine (A carcinogen)
E250 & E252: Very harmful to young children and prevent transfer of oxygen to the blood)
E259: (A carcinogen)
E280: Propionic acid (Banned in many countries)
E311: Octyl Gallate (Causes eczema)
E312: Dodecyl Gallate (Causes eczema)
E321: Butylated hydroxytoluene (Causes cholesterol)
E330: Citric Acid ( A Carcinogen)

POLLEN AND ITS BENEFITS

Pollen is a product which bees collect from various flowers which they themselves choose. When they visit the flowers pollen sticks to the bees. As they gather more and more pollen, the bees “comb” the pollen from their bodies. They add the tiniest quantity of nectar and honey and keep it in the “little basket” which they have on their legs so that they can transport it to their hives. For us to collect the pollen painlessly, we will have placed pollen traps at the entrance to the hives and as the bees enter the hive, they will pass a small opening and some of the pollen will fall from their legs into the trap.



ITS BENEFITS

Pollen is the richest natural source of protein, vitamins, essential amino-acids, hormones, enzymes and other useful ingredients for our nutrition.

So, pollen:

• Effectively raise iron levels and blood count
• Improves the appetite and so is prescribed for:

• Weakness and general feelings of being run-down
• Loss of weight
• Sluggish metabolism
• Memory loss
• Intestinal abnormalities
• Nervous breakdowns
• Assists those who have mild allergic reactions to gain steady immunity
• Aids in the therapy of prostate inflammation
• Aids mental operation, strengthens the contraction heart and has diuretic effects
• Aids those with cholesterol problems
• Diminishes and significantly lessens menopausal problems
• Protects the system from cerebral haemorrhage

HOW IT IS CONSUMED

Pollen should be taken every morning, shortly before breakfast and the suggested amount is one teaspoonful every day for about a week. From the second week the amount should be increased until the daily does is one tablespoonful.

It can be eaten as it is in dry form.

There are other ways too for those who do not like the strong smell of flowers which accompanies pollen.

Pollen can also be mixed with a little yoghurt and honey.

If you want to dilute it, add the required amount to some milk, tea, or juice and leave it for 10-15 minutes so that it can be diluted.

For best results the “treatment” should continue for at least 4-5 months, although the first signs of improvement in our systems are already apparent from the first month.