We’ve all heard of aspartame—the artificial sweetener.  You can taste its particular brand of sweetness in your food and you see its name written on labels, often right on the front of a package.  Do you know why it’s there?  It’s labeled on your food’s packaging because the FDA requires it to be there for those people who can’t tolerate one of its ingredients: phenylalanine.  Some companies, however, just list phenylalanine alone on the label.  If you’re familiar with this chemical because you have an intolerance to it, then you recognize the warning; but if you aren’t familiar with this word, then you may not realize that you are ingesting an artificial sweetener.  So, now you know.  End of story, right?

This is where Neotame comes in.  Neotame is another synthetic sweetener developed by Monsanto as its patent for aspartame was running out.  Neotame is made by adding 3-dimethylbutyl (a chemical that the EPA lists as hazardous) to aspartame; Neotame is heat tolerant (so you can bake with it), it is between 7000 and 13,000 times sweeter than table sugar, and 30 times sweeter than aspartame.  Here’s where the problem comes in: Being 30 times sweeter than aspartame means that less is needed to do the same job, therefore, the FDA doesn’t require it to be included on labels.  If an ingredient comprises less than 1% of a product, the FDA does not require that it be listed on labels.  Right now, it’s estimated that Neotame is being used alone or in conjunction with other artificial sweeteners in several hundred food products in the US (some of them even labeled “organic”), and more than likely, you don’t even know it.

Neotame is not yet available for individual purchase, but clearly, it’s a busy bee.  Food manufacturers love it because so little is needed to do the job of sweetening and it’s far cheaper than using table sugar (sucrose) or high-fructose corn syrup.  Opponents of the sweetener point to its origins in the sweetener aspartame and the controversy that goes along with it.  There are many arguments against aspartame (and hence, Neotame) citing medical reasons, but the FDA and more than ninety countries worldwide disagree.  We’ll leave the decision up to you whether to partake or not.  Studies conducted on Neotame are few, and apparently all sponsored by the parent company, so the controversy extends despite the FDA’s assertions that both Neotame and aspartame are safe to eat at the levels currently being consumed in the US.

What do you think?  Do you eat foods containing artificial sweeteners?  Do you think labels should indicate the presence of the sweeteners even if the levels contained in products equals less than 1%?  Brown Bag is committed to serving you food you can trust from local farmers, whenever possible.  When you eat with us, you know what you’re getting.  We want to know:  Does that matter to you?

If you’re like most women, you take care of your hair.  You may even be somewhat obsessive about your hair—and who can blame you?  The thing is, healthy hair isn’t as difficult to get as people sometimes think; and one of the best ways to get there is through healthy eating.  So, this week, we’re finishing up our list of the top 10 healthy foods for your hair!

6.  Spinach:  Spinach is packed to the tips of its leaves with iron, beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C, and all of these things help to keep hair follicles healthy and scalp oils doing their thing.  If you’re a spinach fan, this is great news for you!    Eat your spinach salads, sauté it with garlic and olive oil, bake it up in a calzone or quiche!  You may not get biceps like Popeye, but you’ll have the strongest hair around!

7.  Lentils:  Think of lentils as the Mighty Mouse of good-for-your-hair foods!  They’re tiny but they pack a punch! There’s always room on your plate for  protein, iron, zinc, and biotin, right?  Do yourself (and your lovely locks!) a favor and take two scoops!

8.  Greek Yogurt:  Greek yogurt has been making a splash in the last few years, and it’s no wonder why. If you’ve tried Greek yogurt, you’ve noticed the difference—both in texture and flavor—from regular yogurt.  Greek yogurt is thicker and more tart due to the process used to make it.  But did you know it’s also hair-friendly?  Greek yogurt has a higher protein count than regular yogurt; it also contains vitamin B5 pantothenic acid, which is an ingredient very often used in hair care products) and vitamin D. Some research suggests that vitamin D promotes hair follicle health, but the ways in which that work are still being examined.

9.  Blueberries:  Blueberries may as well wear tiny little capes.  They are a super food par excellence and tasty to boot!  These little blue heroes are bursting with vitamin C (among other things), and vitamin C is critical for circulation to the scalp; it also aids the tiny, little blood vessels that feed hair follicles. Scrimp on the C, and you might start seeing a lot of breakage. So, grab a blueberry smoothie (made with Greek yogurt!), toss a handful in your mouth between meals, or make them dessert, but keep the blueberries around!

10.  Poultry:  It’s really all about the protein.  Poultry (and lean cuts of beef and other meats) are loaded with it. The birds are also packing plenty of zinc,  iron, and B vitamins, as well, which keep your ‘do long and strong.  In case you didn’t know, hair is almost completely protein, so when you munch on foods high in protein, you’re giving your hair exactly what it needs.

A few more tips for you hair lovers out there:

Red meat is great for iron and iron deficiency has been linked to hair loss and baldness, especially in women.  Keep your iron levels up to keep what you’ve got and help re-grow what you’ve lost.

Bananas, beer, oats and raisins all contain silica, which is great for keeping hair thick and durable.

Vegetables oils, including, olive, sunflower, peanut and safflower, help keep hair shiny.  Researchers say about one teaspoon a day  is sufficient to stave off dullness.

If you’re struggling with your locks or just hoping to do some good while eating great, give some of these suggestions a try.  Changes to hair and skin aren’t overnight; be patient, come see us at Brown Bag and we’ll load your lunch with as many of these hair-healthy foods as possible.  Then, sit back and wait, Rapuzel!  Beautiful hair will be yours!

Thinking your locks could use a little luster but you’re not quite sure what to do about it? How about changing your diet?  Very often we see the effects of poor diet in our skin quickly; have a fast food weekend and watch a field of pimples erupt a few days later, etc.  Just because your hair didn’t go dull in a day doesn’t mean that your diet isn’t affecting its health.  Having healthy hair means having healthy hair follicles, and a healthy scalp and nutrients are the keys! So, do your hair a favor and load your plate up with some of these hair-healthy foods!

Salmon:  We all know salmon is a powerhouse source of omega-3 fatty acids (also Vitamin D and protein), but did you also know that about 3 percent of the hair shaft is made up of fatty acids?  And what’s more–your body can’t manufacture those on its own; you have to go out and get them!  The cell membranes in the skin of your scalp and the natural oils that keep your hair and scalp hydrated contain omega-3’s as well, so keep ‘em coming!

If salmon doesn’t float your boat, try pumpkin seeds, avocados and other fish.

Walnuts:  Walnuts are the only type of nut that has a significant amount of omega-3s—lucky for us, they also have loads of      biotin and vitamin E which helps protect your cells from damage (think sun).

Oysters:  Did you know that a lack of zinc can cause hair loss and even a dry, flaky scalp?  If this happens to you, break out the hot sauce and tip back some oysters! Oysters happen to be very rich in zinc, and just three ounces of oysters can give you 493% of your RDA of zinc!  Oysters are also loaded with protein, so while  you may be able to get some zinc from fortified cereals and whole grain breads, oysters give you that protein boost that grains can’t; and hair is 97% protein, so if you’re not getting enough protein, your hair may be dry, brittle and weak.

Sweet Potatoes:  Sweeter cousin of the famous spud, sweet potatoes are super-rich in beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A.  Basically, every cell in your body needs vitamin A, but in the case of your tresses, it helps to protect and produce the oils that keep your scalp healthy.  A vitamin A deficiency can leave you with a snow shower of dandruff all year long.

Eggs:  Easter is over but keep your basket out and stocked with these babies!  Eggs are rich in protein (which we already know is a hair bonus) but they also contain: zinc, selenium, sulfur, and iron.  We’ve already talked about zinc (see “Oysters” above), but we need to talk iron.  Iron carries oxygen to the hair follicles and anemia (anemia deficiency) is a major cause of hair loss (especially in the case of the ladies).  So, boil, poach, scramble or fry them, but eat your eggs!

In our next blog, we’ll tell you all about 5 more foods that are good for your hair.  In the meantime, eat up, research some recipes and let us know if you find some new and delicious ways to work some of these foods into your diet!