Letter to Walden Farms

Here's a copy of what I sent to Walden Farms just moments ago. I am hopeful that they'll return the email soon so I can let you all know what they've got to say. It'll make a big statement if they decide to consider what my quick study turned up. I hope they're an ethical company!

If you want to write to them, too, you can find their address in the header of the email if you'd like to write to them as well. (By the way, I changed my email address to include the "dot"s and the "at" so the spammers can't find me via my blog, but that's the only change I made to the email.)

Concern about Splenda in your products

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Jayme Hunt	Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 4:00 PM
To: cynthia@waldenfarms.com Bcc: jayme dot hunt at gmail dot com
Hi Cynthia, I'm in phase two of the HCG diet protocol. I purchased several of your products, thought they tasted wonderful, and that I found the answer to my desire for a larger variety of flavor in the foods I'm allowed. On my blog, I periodically conduct a study about products that I'm using in my recipes, as there's a lot of people who come to my site to get flavorful recipes to help them stay on phase two of HCG as well. During my research and study of the ingredients in your products, though, I was lead to research Splenda. Splenda, it turns out, is *BAD* stuff. If you take a look at my post, you'll see why: http://lessofmehcg.blogspot.com/2009/10/walden-farms-quick-study.html I'd like to encourage your company to change your recipe, even though I know this is a difficult thing to do. Please consider changing from Splenda to Stevia. Stevia is a natural product made from parts of a plant in the same family as the sunflower. It has many health benefits... If you go out to Zevia's website, you get a great overview of what stevia will do for you: http://www.zevia.com/products_stevia.html My readers and I are anxiously awaiting your reply regarding this dangerous product found in your products. Thank you, ~Jayme T Hunt "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." ~ Plutarch

Walden Farms, a quick study

I've recently discovered Walden Farms products. I wondered how on earth a company could make a 0 calorie, 0 fat, 0 sugar product and still get sweet things like jam out on the shelves. So, I bought a few of them. And. I used a few in some of my recipes.

So.

Before I go any further, let's take a look at some of the Walden Farms products. As I go through this quick study, I'll be referring to their nutrition page, where you click on one of their products and the label pops up on the right hand side of their site.

In a couple of the chicken recipes, I've already used Walden Farms' raspberry jelly. So, let's take a look at some of those ingredients.

They start off with water and move onto raspberry flavor and crumbles. I have no idea how they're managing to not get any caloric value out of those crumbles. Then they've got natural flavors and NOW we get to the first red flag. Sucralose. Splenda. The rest of the ingredients are ok with me, considering their for color and texture only. But that sucralose... That gives cause for concern.

Why?

Mostly, because of what I read about what that stuff does to you. Dr. Mercola, for instance, has written several articles about the stuff. One of them, "Is Splenda Making You Sick? Find Out Some Common Reaction Symptoms," really brings it home... There's a list of 34 different reactions Splenda delivers. Possibly to you. Possibly to me.

It would be better if Walden Farms used Stevia, but it's a hard thing to do for a company to change their recipe when they've got a product that *is* FDA approved and people like the taste of.

But, if you look on the net, you'll find that just because something's "FDA approved," doesn't mean it's safe for you to consume... For example, an article on Intergrated Supplements, we find two articles about Splenda. Part One states:

Some of the more alarming findings from the sucralose toxicity studies include:

• Reduced grow th rate in newbornand adult rats
• Decreased red blood cell count in mice
• Decreased thyroid hormone (T4) levels in male rats
• Abnormal liver cells and enlarged livers in rats
• Genotoxicity (DNA damage) to cells of the mouse gastrointestinal tract (this study was one of the few studies on sucralose performed by independent researchers, not the product’s manufacturers).
• Shrunken thymus glands in rats(indicative of compromised immune function).

The immunological, gastrointestinal, and thyroid-related effects of sucralose are especially disconcerting as they mimic many of the known toxic effects of other chlorocarbons.

Part Two gives a little more insight about what you might be experiencing:

• Skin disorders – rashes, welts, acne, and flaky, dry skin
• Gastrointestinal disorders – stomach upset, acid reflux, cramping, worsening of irritable bowel symptoms
• Respiratory disorders – wheezing, shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Joint pain
• Flu-like symptoms
• Inflammation

The scary thing about Splenda is that it's everywhere and it's in all sorts of sugar-free stuff. And the most scary thing about Splenda is that mimics so many other life-threatening diseases. Chest pain is a mimic of potential heart attacks. Gastrointestinal disorders like these listed are potential signs of colon cancer!

All in all, this is a dangerous addition to Walden Farms' products. In fact, I intend to write to Walden Farms and let them know what Splenda does to people and to let them know that I've got a post on my blog about it...

But you know what?

I had no idea that Splenda was so dangerous - just that it tasted "funny" and didn't set well on my stomach.

I think, in light of what the Splenda in Walden Farms products does, I'm going to pull the recipes I've already got with that stuff in it. Initially, I thought that I'd found a great possibility for some flavor enhancements during Phase Two of the HCG Protocol.

After this study, though, I think it's just bad news.

Ran-out-of-Time Asian Shrimp

NOTE: I researched Walden Farms products and found some disturbing things about Splenda, which is in the Walden Farms products. See the research here:http://lessofmehcg.blogspot.com/2009/10/walden-farms-quick-study.html

Tonight, I'm getting ready for an all day out of town trip to Portland for cello lesson. So, I'm working to get the meatloaf and the cola chicken made up, too! I ran out of time for supper tonight, so I came up with a *really* quick shrimp recipe. Hope you enjoy it! Here's the sharesies:

Ran-out-of-Time Asian Shrimp (90 calories)

100g shrimp (90 calories)

1t Bragg's Liquid Aminos

1 garlic clove, sliced thinly

3T Walden Farms Asian dressing

In hot pan, add Braggs and toss the shrimp in on top. Cook the shrimp fully on both sides, then turn heat off and add garlic and Asian dressing, stir so fully coated. Serve hot!

Questions from a fellow hCGer (and my answers)

NOTE: I researched Walden Farms products and found some disturbing things about Splenda, which is in the Walden Farms products. See the research here:http://lessofmehcg.blogspot.com/2009/10/walden-farms-quick-study.html

Jan F wrote and asked:

Jayme, I noticed u use WaldenFarm dressing and you suggest baking in alum foil packets... No extra fat from baking in those packets? I mean from the meat?? Also where do I get these dressings? Girl you have great food ideas and I'm lookin for flavor so I don't get bored and cheat this time around... Also that jello looks so amazing... I'm making it for tomorrow.. I'm working on an east Indian dish... I'll let you know how it turns out... Also thanks for the info on mensing... That will really help my friends out!!! You rock!!!

My reply was a little long winded, but I think it'll be beneficial for everyone reading my blog, as it's got some great places to find some of the products I use:

Hi Jan,

I got the dressings and ketchup from Rosauers - it's a store in Hood River, OR. I checked with our local Safeway store, too, but they report they don't carry it. You can get it from http://waldenfarms.com, though! Their website, of course, has lots of things that you might drool over, but make sure that it's no calories, no fat, and no sugar of any kind before you buy... I suppose you could buy it and just use it for phase 3 or later. :)

If you're looking for flavor, my site is the place, for sure. That's the way to stay on any kind of diet. Flavor.

That jello was amazing, but it was soooo filling, too! I only ate half the portion I was allowed - so my portion was 8x5 And I ate 4x5. Hahahaha! I only got 21 calories out of it. ::grins:: The worst part of that was that I ate light the whole day so I could have the whole portion. I came in at only 438 calories that day. Oops. Heh heh heh.

As far as the foil goes, I don't get any extra fat from cooking in them - but it does seal the meat and spices in so it's tender when it's done and flavorful all the way through.

And you know what? You have GOT to get some of the dark chocolate stevia. I got mine at vitacost for $8+change a bottle here: http://www.vitacost.com/Wisdom-Natural-SweetLeaf-Liquid-Stevia-Chocolate When on menses, I CRAVE chocolate. This time, Tami, my nutritionalist at Daniel's Health Store said that if I took a magnesium pill, the craving would go away. That sort of worked. What really worked was taking the magnesium pill with the White Dark Cocoa I made up with that stevia. It answered the craving perfectly. The other trick I found, all on my own about 12 years ago, is for cramps. I get them to a dibilitating point and couldn't stand to take aspirin for it, so I started experimenting. It turns out that cranberry powder pills will get rid of cramps, generally inside of 20 minutes, and it helps with the bloating, too! As soon as I feel cramps coming on, I take 2 cranberry pills. If it's not completely gone in 20 minutes, I take 2 more. Once or twice, I've had to wait another 20 minutes and take 2 more cranberry - but that was when I didn't take them right away after getting the sensation that I was cramping. I tell all the women I can, because they don't need to take drugs - just cranberry.

I can't wait to try out your East Indian dish - I love spicy food. In fact, I just bought about 12 jalapaneos!

Then I started doing some more research and found something new, so had to reply again!

I also just discovered (thank you products.google.com!) that AllStarHealth.com has Walden Farms products at about a dollar cheaper per product than Walden's website does... http://www.allstarhealth.com/li_b/WALDEN_FARMS.htm

Asian Garlic Chicken

NOTE: I researched Walden Farms products and found some disturbing things about Splenda, which is in the Walden Farms products. See the research here: http://lessofmehcg.blogspot.com/2009/10/walden-farms-quick-study.html

Last night's dinner was mostly compliments of Walden Farms, as far as taste goes. I found their salad dressings & ketchup in a store in Hood River after visiting my nutritionalist, Tami, at Daniel's Health Store. (daniels at gorge dot net). I bought my hCG there for the usual price of just $25 per 2fl oz bottle and picked up a few vitamins and some stevia.

Anyway, I headed up to Rosauer's and found Walden Farms salad dressings on sale 2 for $6.

They were sold out of the one I really wanted, Dijon Honey, but I got one of each of all the rest. Asian, Ranch, Creamy Bacon, 1000 Island, Balsamic, Raspberry Vinegrette, and Bleu Cheese. I went searching then for the Ketchup. It wasn't on sale, but it was there! :)

When I got home, I immediately pulled out the chicken I was planning to have but had no idea what to do with. I also grabbed some cabbage and talked my Mom into trying the salad dressings with me last night. She often helps me come up with recipes and taste tests them with me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's the sharesies:

Asian Garlic Chicken (110 calories)

100g chicken

2T Walden Farms Asian dressing

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

In center of 8" foil, place chicken, top with garlic and spread Asian dressing over all of it. Fold into packet and allow to marinate in frig at least 1 hour. Put in 350* oven for 25 minutes or until chicken is done.

We served this up on two separate plates. One (mine) had cabbage tossed with the Walden Farms Balsamic dressing. The other (Mom's) had spinach tossed with the Walden Farms Creamy Bacon dressing.

Mom reported that the dressings mingled very nicely together and that if she were working outside the home, she'd probably make the chicken up the night before, take the spinach and Creamy Bacon salad dressing (in separate containers), warm up the chicken at lunch time and just dump it all over the top of the spinach. Just a thought. :)