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Interesting Keto, Health and Product Information

E223 - a new nasty found in sugar-free food and drinks

The latest nasty showing up in sugar-free foods and drinks is E223. It’s especially triggering for asthmatics, and destroys Vitamin B1 in the intestine. This additive does not provide any beneficial effects whatsoever to the human body.

E223 (Sodium Metabisulfite) is classified as a sulfite and while approved for use in small quantities, E223 destroys Vitamin B1 in the intestine and alters the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut. Leading to disruption of the intestinal barrier, creating inflammation. 

But that's not the worst. It can trigger severe allergic reactions - including asthma attacks and anaphylactic breathing difficulties - in sensitive individuals, particularly asthmatics. 

The concern here is that New Zealand consistently has one of the highest asthma prevalence rates in the world, affecting roughly 10% of the general population. This places it well above many OECD nations, particularly for children and adults. Unfortunately, that rate is even higher at 20% for Maori and 15% for Pasifika.

Here is what E223 does in the body:
• Metabolism: When ingested, E223 breaks down into sulfites, which are metabolised in the liver into sulfates and excreted in the urine.

• Allergic-Type Reactions: In sulfite-sensitive individuals, E223 can trigger asthma-like symptoms, including wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and breathing difficulties as it narrows the airways.

• Irritation: It can cause gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and heartburn.

• Skin Reactions: It can trigger allergic contact dermatitis, hives, and skin rashes.

• Nutrient Degradation: Sulfites can destroy vitamin B1 (thiamine) in the digestive tract. Vitamin B1 is a vital water-soluble nutrient that converts fat, protein, and carbohydrates into energy, essential for metabolism and proper nerve, muscle, and heart function. It acts as a coenzyme in energy production, supports immune system health, and plays a role in cognitive function.

• Potential Long-Term Effects: Some studies have suggested it may destroy gut microbiota, damage the intestinal mucosa, and cause potential neurotoxic effects (e.g., delayed visual response).

So you can put E223 down as another ingredient to be wary of, and to be very careful to avoid giving products like sugar-free syrups that contain E223 to anyone with asthma.

source https://proe.info/en/additives/e223

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Keto Basics : The what, how, benefits, keto food, and getting started

Keto Basics

Are you looking to improve your health and achieve your weight loss goals? Look no further than the ketogenic diet, commonly known as the keto diet. This low-carb, high-fat diet has gained popularity for its potential health benefits. In this blog post, we will explore the body science behind keto food and how it can help you on your journey to better health.

What are the components of Food?

Every piece of food has different components that get broken down in your stomach and your body reacts differently to each of them. Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats and Fibre make up food. When food gets digested your body converts food to energy. The amount of energy produced from each gram varies and is measured in units of calories. 


A calorie deficit where more calories are burnt off, than the number of calories eaten is needed to lose weight. The highest amount of calories per gram comes from carbohydrates. So minimising eating carbohydrates can put someone into a calorie deficit far easier than cutting back on any other food component. It's part of the reason why the Keto Diet is so successful at reshaping bodies through removing fat. 

What is the Keto Diet?

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that has been shown to help people lose weight and improve various health markers. When you follow a keto diet, you drastically reduce your carbohydrate intake and replace it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where it becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy.

How Does Keto Food Work?

When you consume only food that is low in carbohydrates, your body can enter into a state of ketosis. In this state, your liver produces ketones from fat, which become the primary source of fuel for your body. By relying on fat and ketones for energy instead of carbohydrates, your body can burn stored fat more efficiently, leading to weight loss.

The Benefits of Keto Food

There are numerous benefits to incorporating keto food into your diet. One of the most significant benefits is weight loss. Studies have shown that the keto diet can lead to greater weight loss compared to other low-fat diets. Additionally, the keto diet has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and lower triglyceride levels over time.

What Foods Can You Eat on the Keto Diet?

While following the keto diet, it's important to focus on consuming foods that are low in carbs and high in healthy fats. Some examples of keto-friendly foods include:

  • Meat and poultry
  • Fish and seafood
  • Eggs
  • Avocados
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Healthy oils (such as olive oil and coconut oil)
  • and specifically marked Keto Foods*

It's also important to limit your intake of high-carb foods such as grains, sugar, and starchy vegetables.

Is the Keto Diet Right for You?

While the keto diet has shown promising results for many individuals, it does require a commitment. Should you flip flop between carb loading events and a keto diet, your body doesn't have the time to fall back into ketosis before switching back to burning glucose. So what happens is all the fat and calories consumed will be stored and not burned off, resulting in a weight gain.   

In conclusion, the keto diet offers a science-backed approach to weight loss and improved health. By understanding the science behind keto food and making informed choices, you can embark on a journey towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

How to get started on Keto?

The easiest way to form new habits is to piggy back on existing ones with substitute specifically marked Keto foods*. Nowadays there is Keto Bread, Cereals, Milk, Noodles, Pasta and Rice, Honey, Jams, Maple Syrup, even Chocolate and Lollies. Keto chips aka puffs, Keto Biscuits Pastries and even ready made just heat and eat Keto Meals. So by substituting all these types of foods, it allows you the time to educate yourself about what's in your food, and fine tune where else carbs in your food are coming from and improve from there. 

Keto Recipes

The benefit of so many others having been on their keto journey, means there are Keto versions of any regular meal that you make now. Google the word 'Keto' in front of whatever meal you desire and you'll be sorted. We also have a whole lot of recipes in our website too, along with drop down menus where you can purchase the necessary ingredients to make them.

I started my Keto Journey 15+ years ago and back then it was a whole lot harder due to having to prepare everything from scratch due to the lack of commercially prepared food options. So while getting your body into a state of ketosis is now far more achievable, it's important to acknowledge that it does require behaviour changes, and those take time and a commitment from you to bed in.

Even if not going fully Keto, your health will benefit hugely from a reduction in sugar intake using Allulose Sweet as Sugar, swapping out high calorie foods with lower calorie options and watching portion sizes. Lots of little things over time make the time to go Keto a whole lot easier.   

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