Did you know there are over 2,000 food additives in our food supply, many of which have not been tested for safety, and the average American consumes three to five pounds of these chemicals a year.
Would you ever eat weed killer? I bet you are and didn’t even know it. Dipping raw veggies into hummus is one of my favorite snacks. It’s a combo of protein and fiber to keep from craving junk. But recently info came out that rocked the hummus world. Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested popular hummus brands and found the chemical glyphosate in 90% of them.
If you don’t know what glyphosate is, this is the active ingredient in Roundup Weed Killer. And, this chemical is strongly linked to cancer and many health issues.
Link to see which brands – https://www.ewg.org/research/glyphosate-hummus/
Why is the U.S.A always allowing chemicals in our food? This has to stop. Artificial dyes, flavors, pesticides.
Glyphosate is the main ingredient in the weed-killer Roundup® and is the most widely used chemical herbicide in history. Chances are, this chemical is in at least some of the food you’ll eat today, even if that food is organic, non-GMO, and ‘natural’
We need to start being more like European countries like Netherlands, Germany, and ban all chemicals and GMO foods.
It in my opinion is killing us, from the inside out.
And food shipments/imports from other countries like Mexico, China,
The very best way to sidestep artificial ingredients is to eat whole foods as much as possible. But, chances are, even if you’re already eating a (mostly) whole foods diet, some processed foods are sneaking their way in. And in that case, reading labels is invaluable. Food companies use more than 3,000 food additives in their packaged products, including preservatives, flavorings and colors–some being worse than others.
Artificial Ingredients to Avoid
To help you understand the what’s what of this somewhat murky landscape, our coaches share the top 10 food ingredients to avoid and why:
https://www.eatthis.com/worst-food-additives/
Artificial Sweeteners
What are artificial sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes, but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself. They are also know as “intense sweeteners” because they are many times sweeter than regular sugar.
Artificial sweeteners examples:
- Acesulfame Potassium – Sunnett, Sweet One
- Aspartame – Nutrasweet, Equal
- Neotame
- Saccharin – Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet Twin, Sugar Twin
- Sucralose – Splenda
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
- (See a complete list of artificial sweeteners here.)
Reasons to avoid artificial sweeteners:
- Causes weight gain and weight-loss resistance
- Decreases the beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract; this may also negatively impact the immune system
- Increases sugar cravings
- May cause blood sugar disturbances; although artificial sweeteners don’t elevate blood sugar levels, insulin is still released in response to the sweet taste; and since there is no sugar to actually “clear” from the bloodstream, this can lead to hypoglycemia (which sends a message to our brain to eat more calories)
- HFCS has been linked to increased inflammation, obesity, increased LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, and development of diabetes.
What foods have artificial sweeteners?:
- Diet sodas and other beverages
- Sugar free foods (such as jello, ice cream, cookies, etc.)
- Sugar-free gum
- Yogurt
- Premade shakes and protein powders
- Energy drinks
- Bread products (granola bars, cereal)
- Condiments, sauces and dressings
- Candy
Healthy alternatives for artificial sweeteners:
- Fresh fruit 😍
- Stevia (in the raw, 100% stevia-leaf extract form)
- Monk fruit sweetener
Trans Fats
What are artificial trans fats?
Trans fat, or trans-fatty acids, is a type of unsaturated fat that made from vegetable fats (usually under the name partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) for use in things like margarine, snack foods (crackers, chips, etc.) and any fried and fast foods.
Reasons to avoid artificial trans fats:
Trans fat is very pro-inflammatory, which is a known culprit in most modern-day chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The link between trans fats and these diseases is strong, it’s best to avoid them completely. Check ingredients labels of packaged foods carefully: if the ingredients list includes “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” oil, the product contains trans fat. Nutrition labeling rules allow for a product to say it has zero grams of trans fat if the amount per serving is .5 grams or less. So even if the label says “zero” trans fat per serving, if there are multiple servings in a package and you eat the whole package, you’ll be consuming a few grams of trans fat. Focus on eating healthy fats instead, including avocados, avocado oil, nuts, nut butters, seeds, olives and olive oil.
3. Artificial Colors
What artificial food colors?
Artificial food colors are chemical dyes used to color food and drinks. They cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some children (and reduction of IQ), and some have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. They’re found in many cereals, cakes, candy, bakery products, drinks, vitamins and pharmaceuticals.
What artificial food colors to avoid:
- Blue #1 and Blue #2 (E133) – Banned in Norway, Finland, and France. May cause chromosomal damage. Some food products that use artificial dyes include: candy, cereal, soft drinks, sports drinks and pet foods.
- Red dye # 3 and Red #40 (E124) – Banned in 1990 from use in many foods and cosmetics after eight years of debate. However, this dye continues to be on the market until supplies run out. It has been proven to cause thyroid cancer and chromosomal damage in laboratory animals and may also interfere with brain-nerve transmission. It’s found in fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, cherry pie mix, ice cream, candy, bakery products and more.
- Yellow #6 (E110) and Yellow Tartrazine (E102) – Banned in Norway and Sweden. Increases the number of kidney and adrenal gland tumors in laboratory animals and may cause chromosomal damage. It’s found in American cheese, macaroni and cheese, candy, carbonated beverages, lemonade and more.
4. BHA and BHT
What are BHA and BHT?
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are common preservatives that keeps foods from changing color, flavor or becoming rancid. They’re found in many breakfast cereals (including most Kellogg’s varieties), as well as snack foods, enriched rice, lard and shortening, chewing gum, pies, cakes, jello and processed meats.
Reasons to avoid BHA and BHT:
BHA and BHT affect the neurological system of the brain, alter behavior and have been linked to cancer.
5. Artificial Flavors
What are artificial flavors?
When food is processed, it loses its natural flavor, and when it sits on a store shelf for weeks, its natural chemicals begin to deteriorate, reducing its shelf life. Artificial flavors are additives designed to mimic the taste of natural ingredients. They are a cheap way for manufacturers to make something taste like cherries, for example, without actually using any real cherries. Artificial flavors can be tricky because food companies aren’t required to be more specific than the phrase “artificial flavors.” So, if you see it listed on a package, you won’t know if it’s one additive or a whole variety of them. For this reason, in an ideal world, it’s best to skip them altogether. Artificial flavors can be found in many drinks (including fruit juice “blends”), flavored yogurt, salad dressings, candy, gum, baked goods snack foods and more.
Reasons to avoid artificial flavors:
I am guilty of this but I am trying to get off the artificial sweetener and stick to stevia.
An artificial flavor called diacetyl, which is used to flavor microwave popcorn and is also used in potato and corn chips and crackers, has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Other possible symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue and seizures. Without labeling the specific ingredients in artificial flavors, identifying the root cause of your symptom(s) can be nearly impossible.
6. MSG
What is MSG?
Hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are all harmful “excitotoxins.” They are put in foods to fool the tongue into thinking the food tastes better. Look out for anything that’s “hydrolyzed” and any ingredient that contains the word “protein” (whey protein isolate, textured protein, etc.)
Reasons to avoid MSG:
MSG is linked to skin rashes, asthma attacks, depression, mood swings and more. It affects the neurological pathways of the brain and disengages the “I’m full” function, which can lead to weight gain.
7. Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite
What are sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite?
Sodium nitrate (or sodium nitrite) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, lunch meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. (It makes meats appear red.)
Reasons to avoid sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite:
This ingredient is highly carcinogenic once it enters the human digestive system. It forms a variety of nitrosamine compounds that damage the liver and pancreas.
8. Sulfur Dioxide
What is sulfur dioxide?
Sulfur additives are toxic and are prohibited on raw fruits and vegetables in the United States. It’s still found in beer, soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials, wine, vinegar and processed potato products.
Reasons to avoid sulfur dioxide:
Sulfur dioxide can cause bronchial problems, particularly in those prone to asthma, hypotension (low blood pressure), flushing, tingling sensations and other allergic reactions. It also destroys vitamins B1 and E. It is not recommended for consumption by children.
9. Potassium Bromate
What is potassium bromate?
Potassium Bromate is an additive used to increase volume in some bread products.
Reasons to avoid potassium bromate:
It’s known to cause cancer in animals and is banned in Europe, China, Canada and Brazil. But you’ll still find it in some U.S.-made breads and bakery products, possibly listed as bromated flour.
10. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
What is brominated vegetable oil (BVO)?
BVO is a food additive sometimes used to keep citrus flavoring from separating in some sodas and sports drinks.
Reasons to avoid brominated vegetable oil (BVO):
BVO builds up in fatty tissue and has been shown to cause heart damage in animals. It’s banned in Europe, India and Japan. It can still be found in the United States in some Gatorade products, Mountain Dew and other beverages containing citrus flavorings.
References
Eat this https://www.eatthis.com/worst-food-additives/
Independent.com / uk. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/fat-obesity-arthritis-junk-food-probiotic-knee-cartilage-wear-inflammation-study-a8312366.html?amp
Joint Purpose 
This is very informative, thank you!
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