Carrageenan...Say What?!?

One of the documentaries I have watched in the past was 'The Truth About Cancer' and I was completely riveted by the documentary (if you haven't watched it, go find it on their website or on YouTube). Well, I signed up for their emails and recently received one that discussed carrageenan. In all honesty, I don't usually open and read all of their emails but for some reason this one peaked my interest. So I opened it and started reading all about this natural ingredient, carrageenan, which is added to SO MANY of our organic products, as well as others. So why should we be cautious about this natural ingredient? Well, just like that "natural" chicken breast that you find at the grocery store, "natural" doesn't necessarily mean it is healthy for you.

So what is carrageenan? "Carrageenan or carrageenins are a family of linear sulphate polysaccharides that are extrude from red edible seaweeds. They are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties (Wikipedia)."

Where is it found? Well, unfortunately, it is found in a lot of foods. Milk, almond milk, coconut milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, yogurt, juice, frozen pizza, sour cream, dips, infant formula...the list goes on. Crazy, huh?!? I was looking for a healthy sour cream for tacos one day at the grocery store and first looked at Horizon's Sour Cream...guess what, carrageenan was there! Looked at my sons toothpaste, guess what...there, too! So what is the big problem for us?

Dr. Joanne Tobacman, MD, is a physician-scientist who has studied the carcinogenic effects of carrageenan for over 20 years. She found that the carrageenan was stable and safe while in the food product itself, but would too easily break down in the digestive process and cause health problems. Her research linked carrageenan consumption to the development of diabetes and digestive problems.
Dr. Tobacman also found that carrageenan could contribute to the development of ulcers and cancerous tissue growth. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported in 1982 that there was enough evidence to claim that carrageenan is a likely carcinogen in humans.
A study dated back to 1981 cautioned researchers to investigate carrageenan consumption in humans before widespread usage. This study used strong language and cited multiple sources showing that carrageenan has carcinogenic effects when added to food or drinking water of several animal species. - The Truth About Cancer

So...still want to consume this ingredient? Not me! I will definitely be on the lookout now for this ingredient and try my best to keep it out of my house. Here is a great shopping guide to help you when avoiding this ingredient. Another solution to avoiding carrageenan is to make your own products when possible, like almond milk or coconut milk. Try Food Babe's recipe for homemade coconut milk. I personally like her first version, using canned coconut, as the texture was smoother for me.

Hope you all have a healthy and wonderful week!