Many do not know it, but with a large portion of the Almonds
eaten daily, you’re consuming what once was an additive to racing fuel. Yuck!
It all started back in 2001 and 2004 in California where most of the US almonds
are grown. During those years there were two outbreaks of salmonella and 33
people became ill with no one dying. As a result the Almond Board of California
panicked and asked the USDA to mandate pasteurization. In 2007 the USDA
mandated that all Almonds grown in California be pasteurized using one of the
following processes.
•
Oil Roasting Cooks
Nuts, adds unhealthy oils
•
Dry Roasting Cooks
Nuts
•
Blanching Cooks
Nuts
•
Steam Treating Partially
Cooks Nuts
•
PPO (propylene oxide) gassed Racing
Fuel!
Almonds labeled as Organic by definition are not gassed and
most likely steam treated. Most non-organic almonds, because of the lower cost
factor of spraying, are usually sprayed with PPO. The manufacturers are not
required to place on the product label how they are pasteurized, if they were
sprayed, or even partially cooked. Sprayed and steamed almonds still are allowed
to be labeled as ‘raw’.
Here’s why PPO gassed almonds are so dangerous. PPO is one
of the most dangerous chemicals around. If fact it is so dangerous, it was
banned by both the National Hot Rod Association and the American Motorcycle
Association. Though many no longer use it as a racing fuel additive, it is
still used in brake and hydraulic automotive systems. The reason it was banned
is because the EPA has declared PPO a carcinogenic chemical. Even fumes from
PPO are a danger to human health. Neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory,
immune system dysfunctions, and liver disease are all symptoms of being exposed
to PPO. It’s no wonder that Mexico, Canada and the entire European Union have
banned the use of PPO. Of course those who gass almonds with PPO say there are only trace amounts
left on the almonds and because of that it’s OK. Think of all the almonds you
eat, now think of how each small bit of PPO accumulates in your tissues over
the years. Then ask yourself; do you really want to be adding this kind of
carcinogen to your diet?
Steamed almonds as well have their own set of concerns. Even
though they may be labeled as raw, they are really partially cooked. These
almonds are hit with steam at around 160º F. It is believed that any
temperature above 118º F will destroy much of the nutritional value of the
almond. There are a few organic sources that have developed a more complex
steam process that assures the almond will still be able to germinate,
demonstrating that only part of the nutrition is lost in the process. Then one
needs to consider that heat applied to almonds creates harmful levels of acrylamide. This chemical is known to cause cancer
and reproductive toxicity. Lastly there is the issue of partially cooked oils
in the almond. Some suggest the steaming process reduces the shelf life of the
almonds, causing the natural oils to go rancid that much quicker.
As a side note concerning almonds, one cup of almonds
contains only 5.7mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and a whopping 11,462mg of Omega-6
fatty acids. As a comparison, one cup of really raw macadamia nuts contains
276mg of Omega-3 fatty acids with 1,737mg of Omega-6 fatty acids; a much better
ratio.
How does this relate to Prostate Cancer? Simple, the less carcinogenic compounds
you put into your body, and the more high-quality, high nutrient foods you
consume, the faster you will heal. Remember when your body becomes overwhelmed with outside toxins, cancer will develop and grow. So what do you do regarding almonds? First,
if you love to eat them, eat only ‘organic’ almonds that are free of PPO. Better yet, consider Italian almonds that are neither gassed with PPO or heat treated. Also if you live next to an almond farmer, you may purchase untreated small quantities directly at the farm.
As you shop, you
also need to be more conscious of your purchases. Almonds are in much of the
snack food your currently eat. If there is a particular product you can’t do
without, write the manufacturer and make sure the almonds used are not gassed
with PPO. As of this posting, almonds known to be gassed with PPO include such
brands as: Costco Kirkland Signature, Diamond of California, Blue Diamond
Whole, Superior Nut Company non-organic, Country Life non-organic, and Nut
Thins. Almond sources known to be steamed include: Planters, Whole Foods 365,
Back to Nature, Trader Joes, and almond butters such as Maranatha, Arrowhead
Mills, Kettle, Justin's. Remember, it’s your life, contact the supplier and do the research yourself,
verify everything, and make good choices.
Do you stop eating almonds entirely, or do you go steamed organic? The choice is yours. Personally I choose to snack on macadamia nuts as
a healthier food.
