Well, think again. Government-funded researchers and the processed food industry tried to find a replacement for polyunsaturated vegetable oils. This is when Canada engineered a version of rapeseed oil in which Canola oil was born. Canola seed was genetically manipulated to contain small traces of euric acid, a toxic monosaturate that causes organ damage. Canola oil was positioned as a politically correct and attractive alternative to more expensive olive oil because not only was it less expensive, it was supposed to be almost as high in monosaturates as olive oil, which was gaining a heart healthy reputation. Canola oil really has never gone through much scientific scrutiny. There have only been a handful of animal studies that suggest that canola oil contributes to the following factors: blood platlet abnormalities, fibriotic heart lesions, growth retardation, and vitamin E deficiency. The processed food industry claim that canola oil has high cardioprotective properties because they say that it is high in omega 3 fatty acids. They fail to tell the general public that before canola oil reaches consumers, it must undergo a deoderization process that transforms most of the omega 3’s into deadly trans fats. The bottom line, Do not fear healthy fats. They are actually good for you. Before you reach for the canola oil think again and choose a healthier alternative like cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.

We’ve all been there; it’s been a whole week and we’ve been great about sticking to our diets. Then we get stressed out, maybe over work, or the kids, or an issue with a friend, and we turn to our comfort foods. Sure, we probably feel a bit better, but in the long run we’re adding lots of unneeded calories and even adding to our stress.

Instead of chewing down on needless sugar and fat calories, why not try one of these healthy comfort food alternatives instead? Making small adjustments to your already satisfying foods will help you cut the calories without cutting the taste.

* Pasta is a great way to make you feel full and satisfied, but it’s also a great way to pack on the pounds. Substitute your favorite pasta dish with whole grain or sprouted grain pasta. For an extra dose of healthy food, be sure to add fresh or frozen vegetables.

* Macaroni and cheese is one of the all-time top comfort foods, but it’s also pretty fatty. Next time try making it with regular whole milk, but substituting some low-fat cheese. It will still have the creamy goodness you love, without quite as much of the fat.

* Almost everyone out there loves chocolate when they’re stressed or sad, but you can still indulge without expanding your waistline. Instead of using milk chocolate in your recipes, try using dark chocolate or cocoa powder. They have all the good taste of chocolate, but they’re chocked full of antioxidants and other healthy things. Just remember, milk cuts down on the healthy benefits of dark chocolate, so use it sparingly in these recipes.

* Love hamburgers, meat loaf, or anything else with ground beef? Try substituting all of some of the ground beef in your recipes for ground turkey. It has a similar taste, but even using a half and half mix can cut down on fat and calories in your meal. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try substituting pork for beef in your favorite dishes.

* Soup is a food for a cold day. But instead of using canned soup, next time make your own. Canned soups have tons of salt and preservatives. Simply by making the soup yourself instead of relying on cans makes the dish a whole lot healthier. Plus, you can make it just how your family likes it!

* When I’m settling down and ready to eat a satisfying dinner, I love mashed potatoes. To me there’s nothing better, except for maybe healthier mashed potatoes. By adding buttermilk instead of cream, you can keep the rich creamy taste with a lot less fat. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can also try substituting margarine for butter.

* There is one way sure-fire way to help turn any food into a comfort food and that’s spices. When you cut back on fat and calories, food has a tendency to get bland, so when making a new healthy recipe, pump up the spice. Try experimenting with different spices and quantities until you get it just right. But remember, there is such a thing as too much.

If you can recall back to Halloween 2008, there was a big scare with candy coins. The candy was tainted with melamine, a carcinogen and a toxic substance when ingested. The media alerted parents around the world and the candy was recalled but not until after several children had become ill.

Melamine is known to cause kidney and bladder complications, particularly when it is combined with other chemicals, and it has been associated with causing cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Melamine is a synthetic chemical with a variety of industrial uses including the production of resins and foams, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides. It does not occur naturally in food.”

Following the Melamine candy recalls, other candy manufacturers had to do the same thing including Cadbury, Nestle, and Mars as well as many other smaller candy manufacturers. Couple that with the fact that many candy wrappers are made from materials which contain PFCs, suspected carcinogens, and parents would be wise to pay close attention to the candy their children are consuming.

In Addition to Melamine and PFCs

If those two chemicals aren’t enough to scare parents into monitoring children’s candy consumption, consider this:

Chewing gum often contains Propyl Gallate, Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) food additives, which have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory studies.

Many candies including sugar free candies contain Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) and Acesulfame-K, which have caused brain tumors, thyroid cancer and leukemia in laboratory studies.

Finally, most candies contain some type of food coloring and Blue 1 and 2, Red 3 and Yellow 6 have all shown serious health side effects in laboratory studies.

Toxic Candy Alternatives

Not all candy is toxic. Look for organic candies, candy which doesn’t contain the food additives, colorings and preservatives listed above, and home-made candy. Your children don’t have to be deprived to be safe. In the meantime, know that many government officials are striving for safer standards, including measures to ban wrappers containing PFCs and stricter regulations on imported candy.

Additionally, if you have concerns you can visit the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Consumer Affairs to research candy recalls.