I thought this deserved its own thread as well, as there are many products out there that contain vitamin d3 and gelatin.
Gelatin, in North America, is predominantly made from pig skin. There are some companies over seas which use cow skins, but due to the costly removing of hair from the skin, pig skin is the choice of the companies in North America. This includes the following products that I can think of off the top of my head right now;
marshmallows, jelly candies (all those sour candies, worms, pop bottles, berries etc.. most of all 5 cent candies in essence), jell-o, some ice creams, gravies, and many more I cannot think of right now.
So this begs a question; if these products contain pork, should Adventists be consuming them ? My wife and I brought this up to many people in our old church, but people saw it as too strict, or radical. I see it as people not wanting to change or be deprived of eating their beloved candy. Truth is, pig is pig. The refining process of the pig skin doesn't make it any cleaner. It actually may make it worse as an acid is used in the process of manufacturing the gelatin. Not only skin is used, but bones and hooves as well. Of course, the companies focus on emphasizing the skins. So I'll leave that one for now and talk about Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is more of a personal testimony and one that you can participate in and see for yourself.
Vitamin D3, when listed on any ingredient label, is ALWAYS an animal source. ALWAYS. Vitamin D2 is a vegetable source. Just about every margarine I found in the grocery stores, always have vitamin d3 listed as an ingredient. So I phoned every customer service line to inquire what it is exactly. Two answers were given to me;
IT IS FROM SHEEP SKIN, OR COW SKIN
If anyone would like to, they too, can phone the margarine company of their choice and see for themselves.
Once again, we think we are eating a vegetable only product, and it is contaminated with animal. This doesn't include the unhealthy fats that comprise the margarine either. The only safe oils are cold pressed or expeller pressed. Stay away from ALL hydrogenated oils. If it doesn't specify, chances are it is hydrogenated. It is highly poisonous to your long term health. Your arteries will thank you later if you avoid it.
This means many bakery goods need to be avoided. Many cookies, pastries etc.. contain hydrogenated oils. A book I mentioned in another thread called
"Poison in the food: Hydrogenated oils" by Mike Adams, talks about the dangers of hydrogenated oils. Of course, it had to show two of my favorite things on the cover; Chocolate chip cookies. (But we can make healthy alternatives at home to counter it right ?)
Trans fats have been a recent media attention item. You have probably noticed many packaging that states " No trans fats" now. Whether or not the french fry companies have complied or not, is a different story.
Anyhow, I will post again on how the natural source of vitamin D we get is really from the sun and how the sunblock we use to prevent sunburn can actually cause skin cancer. (due to the lovely chemicals in them)
Sunburns are actually caused by nutritional deficiencies. By that, it is because of the liver's role in converting the sun's rays (with the skin playing a role as well) And as we well know because of all the preservatives, sugars, and alcohols used by people in this day and age, the liver isn't exactly briming with positive vigor. Under the strain and stress of everything we put it through, it isn't able to work properly with the skin to positively convert the vitamin D. Instead of a tan, we get a burn. I know personally, since I have done a few liver cleanses, and have taken more of a stance in improving my health, I don't burn like I used to. And I am fair skinned. Of course, a person only needs to expose 6-10 % of their body for 10 minutes per day to receive their adequate amount of vitamin D. Darker skinned people, need to have a longer exposure to get the same. I will post the source of the article I got this from. it was most interesting, and eye opening at the same time.
