What's in Your Cake Mix?

I am guilty of using many boxed cake mixes in my day.  I have seen numerous recipes for "healthy desserts" claiming to use "only 2 ingredients".  A popular one circulating is the "yellow cake mix and canned pumpkin cupcakes".  No sugar or oil, they claim! I've seen them listed under "healthy vegan desserts" (Most commercial boxed cake mixes are not vegan!). Even Dr Oz recommended a "Hungry Girl's Club Soda Chocolate Cake" with "just 2 ingredients".  But is this really healthy?  And is it really only two ingredients?

I used to think so. I was guilty of the 2 or 3 ingredient cakes.  I would even replace the oil suggested with apple sauce, proudly thinking I was doing something right.  That is, until I began reading my labels a little more carefully.

Let's take a closer look at a common store boxed cake mix...

Pillsbury Classic Yellow Cake Mix

Ingredients:
SUGAR, ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, WHEAT STARCH, BAKING POWDER (BAKING SODA, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: DEXTROSE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL MONOESTERS, SALT, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CORN STARCH, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE, XANTHAN GUM, PROPYLENE GLYCOL ESTERS OF FATTY ACIDS, CELLULOSE GUM, SODIUM CASEINATE, POLYSORBATE 60, SODIUM STEARATE, DATEM, RED 40, YELLOW 5, TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANTS).


Sugar- Increases risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer reproduction. Can have a toxic effect on the liver, and interrupts signals to the brain that tell you you're full.

Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin, Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) - Contains added chemicals that change the natural yellow color to white, which increases the acidity of the flour in addition to altering the color. The "enriched" nutrients are chemically engineered and not bioavailable to the human body, nor meant to be consumed. The enrichment makes your body react the same way it would with sugar. 

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil - Added to preserve foods from going bad. In the body, it scars internal walls of the arteries which can lead to high cholesterol. It also slows the micro circulation of blood through the brain causing various emotional and physical ailments such as Alzhemier's, Parkinson's, ADHD, and muddled thinking.

Sodium Caseinate - Protein created from the milk of animals . If you see this listed in a product...it is NOT vegan. May injure the kidneys, and has been shown to promote cancer in all stages of development.

Datem - An emulsifier primarily used in baking to strengthen the dough by building a strong gluten network. It is genetically modified to create a softer and lighter consistency. (Could this be responsible for the sudden gluten intolerance seen in America?) Whole Foods refuses to sell products that contain this ingredient. See the full list here.

Red 40 - Synthetically derived from petroleum (and the most commonly used dye in the U.S.). May cause symptoms of hypersensitivity, swelling around the mouth, and hives. May contain contaminants that contribute to cancer and could trigger hypersensitivity in children. Proven to damage the DNA of mice.

Yellow 5  - May cause hyperactivity in children, as well as behavioral changes that include loss of 

concentration and impulsive, hard to control activity. Also linked to other health problems such as blurred vision, mirgraines, fatigue, and anxiety. May cause chromosomal damage and possible risk of accelerating cancer.

TBHQ - Preservative that greatly extends the shelf life of products. May lead to hyperactivity in children as well as asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis. It may also further aggravate ADHD symptoms,cause restlessness, and may be responsible for affecting estrogen levels in women. Long term, laboratory animals were shown to develop cancerous precursors in their stomachs as well as cause DNA damage to them.  

That 2 ingredient cake just became a 24 ingredient cake. And the ingredients are full of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) that belong in a science lab and not in your body. Not a single ingredient (other than possibly the pureed pumpkin you may add) is real food. Do you really want that in your body?

I know they are tempting. The boxed cake mixes are super cheap and easy to whip up. And is it really that bad to eat them every once in awhile? That is for you to decide. Just remember, the more packaged foods you buy, the more likely you are to eat genetically modified ingredients just as these listed above. As always, check your labels, and ask yourself: Is it worth it?

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