[jennyj]

I just stumbled on some information that I thought I would pass on. I've been confused as to why I seem to have digestive and other problems with foods like rice or potatoes if they are fried but not if they are boiled, as well as problems with crunchy cereals. Evidently, if certain foods (mainly starchy ones like potatoes and grains) are cooked at temperatures above 248 degrees Fahrenheit, a neurotoxin and possible carcinogen called acrylamide is formed. The boiling point of water is only 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so boiling these foods doesn't seem to create the acrylamide.

Other foods that can contain high levels of acrylamide are coffee, cocoa, and cereals. The more these foods are roasted or baked at high temperatures, the more acrylamide seems to be formed.

From what I've been reading, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done, but the information that has already been gathered is very enlightening. For me, I definitely think I react to acrylamide. I seem to crave boxed cereals, chips, and other grain or potato products that are fried or baked at high temps. However, I don't crave a baked or boiled potato or rice cooked the normal way. Plus, I always seemed to have digestive problems with fried foods, and I attributed it to the amount of oil. However, I don't seem to have the same problems if I eat foods like brown rice pasta salad with lots of olive oil and lime juice in it. I also react a lot to coffee and chocolate & cocoa powder. I always thought it was the caffeine, but it might also be the acrylamide.

Here are a number of links that have much more detail:
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/0...od-article.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylamide
http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2004-1/2004-1-03.pdf
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200306041.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20021214/food.asp
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/pestadd.html#dioxin
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit...aliment_e.html

You can also just type in acrylamide or acrylamide neurotoxin in Google, and it will bring up tons of information.

Jenny

[loisba]

Wowzers! If I needed another reason beyond my increasing waistline and triglycerides for cutting out my McD's fries, this was it! Thanks, Jenny.