If only I knew then what I know now about the food industry I would be much more aware of the health dangers that came along with one can of tomato soup! Once I started cooking food for myself and family with REAL ingredients, no more store bought pre-made foods, there was no turning back to what we were all used to as kids. Why? Because the "Toxic soup" of harmful ingredients that make up most processed foods and soups like Campbells or Progresso may include MSG, HFCS, Natural/Artificial Flavors (where the FDA can hide toxic ingredients and GMO ), Artificial Sweeteners, GMO, Soybean oils to name a few.

GMO or Genetically Modified Organism

is one that is most commonly talked about. It was created to be resistant to pesticides and herbicides which means you find even more of those residues on thesenbsp;kindsnbsp;of veggies than you would on a Non-GMO vegetable. As much as we wash our veggies, they still take this up innbsp;therenbsp;root system.nbsp;nbsp; The 9 main GMO crops in the US are: soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar (sugar beets), Hawaiian papaya, zucchini, and alfalfanbsp;.

Look out for these hidden GM ingredients:

Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.

MSG or Monosodium Glutamate

is a flavor enhancer in most processed foods that can be extremely harmful to the human body effecting brain function and weight gain and causing side effects such as sweating, flush, headaches or numbness and inflammation. According to studies by the University of North Carolina who found that those who consumed MSG on a regular basis were more likely to be overweight or obese. Russel Blaylock, a certified neurosurgeon, wrote a book about MSG. In his book he stated , “Monosodium Glutamate literally stimulates children’s neurons to death causing brain damage to varying degrees.” When MSG is present in food you will most likely know because its addictive properties cause you not stop eating it!

Artificial Sweeteners 

are not as sweet as you might think. Sucralose, found in Splenda, is created by chlorinating sucrose replacing hydroxyl with chlorine, a carcinogen and may actually cause weight gain. Aspartame is another one found in lots of Diet sodas like Diet Coke, some candy and Equal sweetener. In a report from an official United States Air Force publication, pilots were warned not to consume aspartame. The report stated, “Aspartame has been investigated as a possible cause of brain tumors, mental retardation, birth defects, epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Diabetes.” At this time the FDA still has made no motive to regulate aspartame in the food system.

High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS 

or corn syrup solids is a sweetener derived from corn. The amounts of fructose vary with the manufacturer. An enzyme-linked process increases the fructose content, making HFCS sweeter than regular corn syrup and actually a lot more dangerous to our bodies. When digested, it actually depletes our body of the energy we need in our gut required to maintain a healthy intestinal lining. When our gut lining is "broken" the little “tight junctions” will separate, allowing food and bacteria to“leak” across the intestinal membrane and trigger an immune reaction and inflammation throughout the body; leading to what we know as an autoimmune disease (Leaky Gut, Candida, Hashimotos, IBS etc.) HFCS is cheaper than sugar because of the government farm bill corn subsidies. Products with HFCS are sweeter (containing more fructose molecules) and cheaper than products made with cane sugar. According to Dr. Hyman, "Fructose goes right to the liver and triggers and lipogenesis(the production of fats like triglycerides and cholesterol) this is why it is the major cause of liver damage in this country and causes a condition called “fatty liver” which affects 70 million people. The rapidly absorbed glucose triggers big spikes in insulin–our body’s major fat storage hormone. Both these features of HFCS lead to increased metabolic disturbances that drive increases in appetite, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, and more." Food for thought, In this article he asks, "Why is the corn industry spending millions on misinformation campaigns to convince consumers and health care professionals of the safety of their product? Could it be that the food industry comprises 17 percent of our economy?" 

You can read more about the 5 reasons you should stay way from any products containing high fructose corn syrup and why it may kill you here.

My advice to you is to avoid these ingredients at all costs by being more mindful of the ingredient list because now you know where these pesky ingredients can hide out. When dining out try to make healthier choices by asking about the source (whether GMO or Organic) and avoiding the ingredients mentioned in this article.

Check out this deliciously creamy family classic homemade tomato soup I created. Say NO to canned processed soups. You can find the recipe here! Its freezes well and can be warmed up right in a saucepan on your stove.