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Carrageenan

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I'm seriously considering adding this ingredient to my list of

I have heard for a while now that some types of Carrageenan could basically be a form of MSG so I have tried to stay away from it especially if it was in a product from a brand I didn't really trust.

Carrageenan comes from seaweed and I'm sure the whole seaweed is quite healthy but what happens when it becomes Carrageenan? 

But I'm starting to think maybe I should stay away from it entirely.  I was looking into getting those quarts of shelf stable coconut milk that I've heard so much good about.  Well.......I of course read the ingredients and I noticed all the flavors contained Carrageenan!  So did a quick internet search to learn a bit more about it and I obviously have a lot more to learn but I found things like they found when given carcinogens to animals along with Carrageenan it actually sped up tumor growth as opposed to those just fed the carcinogen.  It was compared to drinking Vasaline.  Many people may have reactions to it causing stomach and intestinal upset.  Etc. Etc. Etc.  And I got that from just a quick search.  Makes me want to study more.

So what do you think about Carrageenan?  
Have you noticed having reactions to it?
Is it just the gel from seaweed and is pretty much harmless?
I would love to hear your thoughts or what you have studied and learned about it!
What do you think?


4 comments:

Courtney said...

When in doubt, here's my rule: If you don't know what the ingredient is (or can't pronounce it) then your body probably doesn't either, so you shouldn't be using it.

Jenni said...

I am pretty sensitive when it comes to MSG, mostly with headaches or a burning sensation on parts of my head. But I don't have those same feelings with Carrageenan. Even if you don't feel the effects of something, it dosen't mean there isn't damage being done. I try to stay away from products with Carrageenan in them. Better safe than sorry! I enjoy my brain cells!

Margaret said...

much of the smear campaign comes from Cornucopia who is a "non-profit" organization secretly funded by Organic Valley to spread doubt on carrageenan since they see it as a point of difference between their products and a main competitor so it is a strategy....Margaret

Tammie said...

Margaret: That is interesting, I will have to look into it. I personally think that Carrageenan in it's whole form in seaweeds is probably health promoting. But if it has to be highly processed and isolated probably still not an ingredient I care to have much of.