Food additives are substances that are added during the processing or preparation of a certain food to preserve flavors and freshness and to improve taste and appearance.
Although some of them have been used for centuries, the use of certain food additives is becoming very widespread and some of them are extremely dangerous to health, I would even say toxic.
I am not talking about the occasional consumption of certain processed foods that contain additives, which cannot harm anyone. I’m talking about everyday use. Statistics show that the average American spends about 90% of their budget on these types of foods; which means that if you open an American fridge or look on the shelves you will find tons of things canned, dried, artificial or processed, which is extremely unhealthy, and its persistent consumption can cause health problems.
These food ingredients are typically very difficult to identify, both because of the variety of names and codes they are labeled with, and because of the very small fonts used to list them as ingredients.
Here is the list of the top 10 toxic ingredients.
Go get your detective glasses and start reading the labels!
1) HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a highly refined artificial sweetener made from corn starch and found in almost all processed foods such as: bread and baked goods, salad dressings, candy, yogurt, soft drinks, etc And according to some studies it has become the number one source of calories in the United States.
In fact, its easy handling and inexpensive cost made it the number one replacement for granulated sugar: the amount of refined sugar we consume has decreased in the last 40 years, while we consume nearly 20 times as much HFCS.
HFCS is linked to weight gain, increases LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, and contributes to the development of diabetes and tissue damage, among other harmful effects.
Additionally, recent research published by the American Association for Cancer Research found that the fructose in HFCS promotes cancer growth, specifically pancreatic cancer.
2) Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite (NaNO3- NaNO2)
Both are chemical compounds used as food additives to preserve and give sausages, smoked fish and poultry a beautiful pinkish red colour. Although their purpose seems harmless, these ingredients are highly carcinogenic and their consumption is linked to gastrointestinal cancer and heart disease.
In fact, under certain conditions, they can form nitrosamine compounds, molecules that cause cancer in animals and humans.
Also, in massive doses, nitrite and nitrate, which under certain conditions are transformed into nitrite, can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia. In our body, nitrites, in fact, have the ability to change the structure of hemoglobin into methemoglobin: the binding of oxygen to whom results in a higher affinity for oxygen in the remaining heme sites. This leads to a general reduced ability of the red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the tissue and can occur in tissue hypoxia.
Can’t stop eating salami, bacon or ham? Choose the ones that are not cured.
Sodium nitrate is listed under INS number 251 or E number E251, sodium nitrite is E number E250.
3) MSG – Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that is commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups, and processed meats. While glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies and in many foods, such as tomatoes and cheese, those exploited by the processed food industry are produced chemically through the hydrolysis of plant proteins with hydrochloric acid to break down the peptide bonds or by fermentation. starch, sugar beet, sugar cane or molasses.
The substance produced has the ability to excite our taste buds and make everything taste delicious, which wouldn’t be such a big deal if it hadn’t been shown that high levels of MSG can seriously alter brain chemistry and cause damage to areas of the brain. brain. unprotected by the blood-brain barrier.
4) artificial colors
Food colorings are one of the most common ingredients in processed foods that are used for the purpose of making your food or drink more desirable and appealing.
Nothing against that if they hadn’t been linked to some serious health issues.
Blue #1 and Blue #2 (E133)
Banned in Norway, Finland and France. It can cause chromosome damage.
It is found in candy, cereal, soft drinks, sports drinks, and pet foods.
Red Dye #3 (also Red #40, a more current dye) (E124)
Banned in 1990 after 8 years of debate for its use in many foods and cosmetics. This dye is still on the market while supplies last! It has been shown to cause thyroid cancer and chromosome damage in laboratory animals, and may also interfere with brain-nerve transmission.
It’s found in fruit cocktails, maraschino cherries, cherry cake mixes, ice cream, candy, baked goods, and more!
Yellow #6 (E110) and Tartrazine Yellow (E102)
Banned in Norway and Sweden. Increases the number of kidney and adrenal gland tumors in laboratory animals, may cause chromosome damage.
It’s found in American cheese, mac and cheese, candy and carbonated drinks, lemonade, and more! (source Food Matters website)
The “Eat the Rainbow” catchphrase is still cool, but be natural please!
5) BHA and BHT
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), also listed with the E320 label, and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are two organic compounds widely used by the food industry as preservatives due to their antioxidant properties, since they can prevent the rancidity of foods that contain fats.
Although the FDA declared them safe, the US National Institutes of Health reported that they can cause cancer – causing reactive compounds in our bodies that can lead to cancer.
In addition, they can alter your hormonal and neurological system.
BHA is found in tons of food: grab a bag of chips, a box of cereal, a package of frozen hot dogs, or just chew some gum, and you have a high chance of finding either BHA or BHT (or worse, both). ) in the ingredient list.
6) Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes used to give food drinks a sweet taste without all the calories from sucrose.
Aspartame, also known as NutraSweet, Equal, and coded E951, is the most famous. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar, but its effect on the human body is not as sweet as its taste: it is neurotoxic and carcinogenic.
Some studies claim that it is the most dangerous substance on the market, with a wide range of health effects ranging from mild problems, such as memory problems, headaches and dizziness, to more serious ones, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s , Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia. and emotional disorders.
Also avoid acetysulfame K, saccharin (Sweet’N Low, SugarTwin), and sucralose (Splenda).
7) Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is a chemical compound with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, used as a preservative for dried fruits such as dried apricots, raisins, and prunes and added to fruit juices, cereal bars, and breakfast cereals to prevent discoloration. , ripening and decomposition.
It’s helpful to check food labels and sulfites in general, with numbers in the E220-228 range; however, companies are required to list it only if there are more than 10 parts per million (ppm) in the finished product.
While it is harmless to healthy people when used in recommended concentrations, it can induce asthma and respiratory problems when ingested by sensitive people, even in high dilution.
It also destroys vitamins B1 and E.
8) Trans Fat
“Trans fat, or unsaturated trans fatty acids, trans fatty acids, are a type of unsaturated fat found in trace amounts in nature but widely produced industrially from vegetable fats for use in margarines, snack foods , packaged baked goods, and fried foods dating back to the 1950s. Trans fats have been shown to be consistently associated, in an intake-dependent manner, with increased risk of coronary artery disease, one of leading causes of death in Western nations.
In fact, trans fats have the power to increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, while lowering the amount of HDL (good) in our bodies. Trans fats abound in fast food restaurants. Here is a list of health problems associated with a high consumption of trans fats: Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver dysfunction, infertility, depression, memory deficits.
Keep them in mind as you enjoy your fries!
9) sodium benzoate
Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and is famous for its antifungal properties.
Take a can of soda and you will surely find it as an ingredient (E211). In fact, it is widely used by the soft drink industry, and not only for that. This chemical compound is mainly added to acidic foods such as marinades, sauces, and vinegars in order to enhance their flavor.
When mixed with ascorbic acid (known as vitamin C), sodium benzoate creates an unfortunate side effect: it forms benzene known as a potent carcinogen, contributing to the formation of many different types of cancer.
10) potassium bromate
Last but not least, potassium bromate, used in the United States as a flour additive to improve the elasticity and strength of the dough and allow it to rise more.
In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared potassium bromate a possible human carcinogen. Since then, it has been banned in several countries, including Europe and Canada, but not in the United States, where studies have found it in more than 86 baked goods found on supermarket shelves.
Take a look at your bread, buns, French toast, or puff pastry before you buy. Please!
