Do You Know What's in Your Non-Dairy Creamer?
- By Dr. Mercola
Mercola.com, May 17, 2014
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Non-dairy creamer can scarcely be called “cream” at all, as
it is more aptly described as a synthetic combination of
chemicals, oils, sugars, and milk products
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Non-dairy creamer typically contains corn syrup, partially
hydrogenated oil (i.e. synthetic trans fats), dipotassium
phosphate, and other synthetic ingredients
-
Non-dairy creamer is actually highly flammable!
-
While raw whole milk is far healthier than non-dairy
creamer, research suggests that adding dairy to your coffee
may interfere with your body’s absorption of the beneficial
antioxidants it contains
-
If you're interested in protecting your health, drink your
coffee black, without sugar, non-dairy creamer or cream, or
flavorings
Have you ever heard the urban legend that non-dairy coffee
creamer is flammable? If you watch the video above, you'll see that
this isn't an urban legend at all; it's actually true!
I even know of some people who have used non-dairy creamer to start
their campfires! Which, of course, begs the question what is this
stuff made of, and do you really want to add it to your morning
coffee?
What's Really in Your Non-Dairy
Creamer?
If you drink coffee, the best way to drink it is black without sugar
or cream and preferably organic. But if you choose to add cream, the
simple, old-fashioned full-fat cream (preferably organic, raw, and
from grass-fed cows) is the best option.
Non-dairy creamer can scarcely be called "cream" at all, as it is
more aptly a synthetic combination of chemicals, oils, sugars, and
milk products. Let's take a look at some of the more common
ingredients, which will, of course, vary slightly depending on your
brand:
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Part of the problem with
partially hydrogenated soybean oil is the trans fat it contains.
These synthetic trans fats are known to promote inflammation.
There are also the significant health hazards of soy itself, with
the majority of soybeans genetically engineered and contaminated
with highly toxic herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate).
High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
It's often claimed that HFCS is no worse for you than
sugar, but this is not the case. Because high-fructose corn
syrup contains free-form monosaccharides of
fructose and glucose, it cannot be considered
biologically equivalent to sucrose (sugar), which has a
glycosidic bond that links the fructose and glucose
together, and slows its breakdown in the body.
Fructose is primarily metabolized by your liver, because
your liver is the only organ that has the transporter for
it. Nearly all fructose gets shuttled to your liver, and, if
you eat a typical Western-style diet.
When you consume high amounts of it, fructose ends up
taxing and
damaging your liver in the same way alcohol and other
toxins do. And just like alcohol, fructose is metabolized
directly into fat – this subsequently stored fat
leads to mitochondrial malfunction, obesity, and
obesity-related diseases.
Dipotassium Phosphate
This inorganic salt is used as a stabilizer and
anti-coagulant in non-dairy creamer. It's also used in
fertilizers and cosmetics, and is said to cause vomiting and
diarrhea if consumed "in quantities."1
Mono- and Diglycerides
These additives are used to blend together ingredients
that normally wouldn't blend well (such as oil and water).
They may be synthetically produced or derived from animal or
vegetable sources, including partially hydrogenated oils.
Natural Flavors
This doesn't sound bad, until you realize that additives
like
monosodium glutamate (MSG) and related forms of
concentrated free form glutamate can be labeled as natural.
MSG is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your
cells to the point of damage or death.
It causes brain dysfunction and damage to varying degrees,
and potentially even triggering or worsening learning
disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou
Gehrig's disease, and more. Non-dairy creamer may also
contain the
vanilla-smelling anal secretions from beavers, called
castoreum.
Sodium Caseinate
This ingredient is extracted from milk protein and used
as a thickener and whitening agent. Sodium caseinate is
typically treated with the chemical solium hydroxide, a
chemical alkali. The problem with chemical alkalies is that
they act like "anti-nutrients" – damaging or suppressing
nutrient absorption.
Casein is also the primary protein found in cow's milk
associated with allergies, neurological conditions, and
autoimmune reactions such as juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes.
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (SSL)
This additive is used to strengthen bread dough as well
as a cleanser, foaming agent, and emulsifier in cosmetic
products. SSL is also used to replace fat and sugar, as it
has a mildly sweet taste and reduces the amount of oil
needed in products.
Coffee Can Be a Health-Promoting Beverage
While I personally don't drink or enjoy coffee, the emerging
research suggests it may have a number of unrecognized
health-promoting properties. Not every single study shows
coffee to be beneficial, but the majority are quite positive,
suggesting that coffee has been unfairly maligned. There is
strong evidence coffee can help stabilize your blood glucose
level and may even help curb
sugar cravings. Caffeine binds to your opioid receptors,
which essentially prohibits you from craving something else,
such as sugar.
Research also shows that coffee triggers a mechanism in your
brain that releases a growth factor called Brain-Derived
Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF activates brain stem cells to
produce new neurons, and also expresses itself in your muscles.
It does this by supporting the neuromotor, which is the most
critical element in your muscle. Without the neuromotor, your
muscle is like an engine without the ignition. Neuromotor
degradation is part of the process underlying age-related muscle
atrophy. Essentially, caffeine from natural whole coffee may
help keep your brain and muscle tissue young. The following is a
summary of some of the more recent research that supports
coffee's health benefits.
Type 2 Diabetes |
A Japanese study in 2010 revealed that coffee
consumption exerted a protective effect against type 2
diabetes,2
as further confirmed by 2012 German study, published in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Researchers have also found that coffee doubles glucose
intake, which will greatly reduce blood glucose levels. |
Parkinson's Disease |
Coffee may significantly cut your risk of Parkinson's
disease.3
In fact, coffee is so preventative against Parkinson's
that drug companies are designing experimental drugs
that mimic coffee's benefits to your brain.4 |
Alzheimer's Disease |
A 2011 study revealed that a yet unidentified mystery
ingredient in coffee interacts with the caffeine to help
protect you from Alzheimer's disease.5 |
Prostate Cancer |
A large 2011 study of nearly 50,000 men found men who
drank six cups of coffee per day had 60 percent lower
risk of lethal prostate cancer, and those who drank
three cups per day had a 30 percent lower risk.6 |
Liver Cancer |
A Japanese study found those who drank coffee daily, or
close to it, had about half the risk of hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, than people who
never drank coffee.7
Coffee is also associated with less severe liver
fibrosis, lower levels of fat in your liver, and lower
rates of hepatitis-C disease progression.8 |
Kidney Cancer |
Coffee consumption may be associated with decreased risk
of kidney cancer.9 |
Colorectal Cancer |
A 2007 study suggested coffee consumption may lower
colon cancer risk among women.10 |
Heart Rhythm Problems |
A study showed moderate coffee drinking reduces your
chances of being hospitalized for heart rhythm problems.11 |
Pulmonary Function |
A 2010 study revealed a beneficial effect of coffee on
the pulmonary function of nonsmokers.12 |
Stroke |
A 2011 study found that women who drank more than one
cup of coffee per day had about a 25 percent lower risk
of stroke than women who drank less.13
A 2009 study found women who drank four or more cups of
coffee per day reduced their stroke risk by 20 percent.14 |
Gastrointestinal Flora |
A study in 2009 showed coffee produced an increase in
the metabolic activity and/or numbers of
Bifidobacterium, which are beneficial bacteria in
your gut.15 |
The Case for Drinking Your Coffee Black
If you are dousing your cup of Joe in creamer, non-dairy
creamer, sugar, and other sweeteners and flavorings, you are
missing out on the therapeutic benefits and potentially harming
your health. The natural blend of polyphenol
antioxidants (including chlorogenic acids) are part of what
makes coffee so healthful. However, research suggests that
adding dairy to your coffee may interfere with your body's
absorption of beneficial chlorogenic acids.16
So while it's definitely best to avoid synthetic foods like
non-dairy creamer, even adding raw whole milk to your coffee may
interfere with the bioavailability of its antioxidants. Add
sugar to your coffee and you'll also ruin the benefits discussed
above by spiking your insulin levels, which contributes to
insulin resistance. If you're interested in the health
benefits, drink your coffee black, without sugar, non-dairy
creamer or cream, or flavorings. If you really can't
stand your coffee black, you could try adding non-dairy
alternatives like almond or coconut milk.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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